The man accused of glassing a fellow customer in a Monmouth pub last October was found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in Cardiff Crown Court last week.

Andrew Griffiths, of Wyesham, stood trial over Wednesday and Thursday (17th and 18th April) accused of wounding fellow Monmouth man Paul Goodway in a fight by smashing a glass in Mr Goodway's face.

Griffiths faced two alternate charges of wounding with intent and unlawful wounding. After two days of evidence, a jury took less than one hour to convict Griffiths of the first count, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Griffiths will face his sentence in the same court on 20th May and remains on residential bail until this date.

Before hearing evidence from Mr Goodway on Wednesday, the jury heard from prosecuting barrister, John Warren as he described the events of the night.

Mr Warren told the courtroom how Mr Goodway had been assaulted as he spoke to his two nieces, one of whom, Carly Morris, was the partner of Griffiths at the time.

The victim had been on a night out with friends around Monmouth when he reached the King's Head Wetherspoons at around 11pm.

Later in the night, at around 1am, Mr Goodway was speaking to his two nieces, Carly and Gemma Morris close to the bar in the pub as the defendant approached the three.

Griffiths, who had dated Miss Morris for around seven years had not been on speaking terms with Mr Goodway for over a year. When asked why, Mr Goodway told the jury "because he is always knocking my niece around".

Griffiths has seven previous charges against him, three of which were for assaulting Miss Morris. Recorder Peter Rouch described Griffiths as one who "definitely has a propensity for acts of violence".

When in the witness stand, Mr Goodway told the jury he had been speaking to his two nieces, Carly and Gemma, near the bar when the defendant approached.

"Relations between Mr Goodway and Mr Griffiths had been frosty," said Mr Warren, and as Griffiths approached the group, the prosecution described how he said to his girlfriend: "Me and Paul are alright now, aren't we", to which Mr Goodway responded: "I'm never be alright with him".

At this point, Mr Goodway was hit by Griffiths to the left side of his face with a beer glass. Mr Goodway described how he wasn't aware that there was a glass in Griffiths' hand until he heard it smash, told Mr Warren.

"People got in between us and the next thing I knew there was blood down the side of my face," said Mr Goodway.

"I didn't realise it was bad though until a person, I think was the bar manager, told me I had a cut under my eye and that I needed to see the paramedics."

45-year-old Mr Goodway sustained a slit across his face under his left eye, bruising to the area and scratches to his lips. He was treated at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital and did not receive any stitches.

The victim then left the pub and was involved in a further altercation outside with the defendant's brother, Richard Griffiths. Both men were arrested, with Andrew Griffiths being arrested later that night. Richard Griffiths was charged for the fight in a separate case.

Under questioning, Griffiths answered "no comment" to all police questions regarding the incident.

When cross examining Mr Goodway in court, defence barrister Nigel Friar questioned how the fight really began: "Mr Griffiths came to speak to you in a reconcilatory gesture. He was offering you the hand of friendship wasn't he? And you punched him on the nose and gave him a bloody nose".

Disputing this, Mr Goodway said: "Me and Andrew haven't spoken for 13-14 months, why would I want to go up and speak to him on that particular night? I keep away from him and don't have anything to do with him at all".

Showing the jury CCTV footage of the brawl, Mr Friar said: "It was just a bit of a ruck in the pub wasn't it? There were about 7-10 people involved in the fight and it is entirely possible Mr Goodway that you received that injury when you were rolling around on the floor". Mr Goodway denied this possibility: "I'm 99 per cent sure that's where I got it," he said.

As Griffiths faced questioning, it was claimed that Mr Goodway had made the original provocation, and thrown the first punch. When asked by Mr Friar why Griffiths attacked Mr Goodway, the defendant replied: "I just wanted to get him away from me, there was nothing in my hand, it was just a punch".

This point was disputed by Mr Warren who said to Griffiths: "You'd made a point of going over there and you offered him the olive branch but he threw it back in your face in front of your girlfriend, wasn't that the reason you lost your temper?

"You were pretty annoyed weren't you? Any you intended to get even.

"There was an intention on your part to disfigure his wasn't there. Because that's what happens when you hit someone with a glass".

"You are someone with a considerable experience of the criminal justice system aren't you, you know the score, so why not answer the police's questions if you were acting in self defence? The reason you did not tell the police any of this is because it isn't true is it?

"You will do almost anything Mr Griffiths to evade responsibility for what you have done".

Griffiths remains on residential bail on the condition that no contact is made with Mr Goodway or Miss Gemma Morris, who also gave evidence against Griffiths at the trail.

A sentence will be given on 20th May.