AN IPSWICH man has been jailed for two years after hitting another man over the head with a glass bottle.Roger Gant, 25, needed stitches after 18-year-old Andrew Billman attacked him in his Ipswich flat during an argument a court heard.

AN IPSWICH man has been jailed for two years after hitting another man over the head with a glass bottle.

Roger Gant, 25, needed stitches after 18-year-old Andrew Billman attacked him in his Ipswich flat during an argument, a court heard.

Mr Gant had retaliated by butting Billman twice, then Billman had left the premises, said Karim Khalil, prosecuting.

Billman, of Friars, Capel St Mary, admitted unlawful wounding and common assault and was jailed for two years and four months at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday.

John Morgans, for Billman, said his client had been drinking and smoking cannabis when he hit Mr Gant over the head with the bottle.

"He is genuinely sorry," said Mr Morgans.

Also before the court were Jamie Arnold, 19, of Westholme Road, Ipswich, and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age.

Arnold admitted two offences of theft and common assault and was jailed for two years.

The 16-year-old boy admitted common assault and was sentenced to a 12 month supervision order.

Mr Khalil said that two schoolboys aged 16 and 17 had been walking past a shelter in Christchurch Park, Ipswich, when they were approached by the three defendants.

Arnold had blocked their path and told one of them to hand over his phone and £5 from his wallet.

Billman and the 16-year-old defendant approached the other boy and was asked to lend them £1.

Billman had hit the boy in the face and had shadow boxed him.

The 16-year-old defendant had also made as if to hit the schoolboy.

Zubair Ahmad, for Arnold, asked the court to defer sentence so that his client could move from the area and start a new life living with his mother.

Ian Dyble, for the 16-year-old, said his client was easily led and was under the influence of alcohol when he committed the offence.