A MILFORD Haven man, caged for a sickening attack on a helpless man in the street, was lucky to escape with only a 16-month jail term, top judges have ruled. 

Scott Alexander Younger, 27, was put behind bars at Swansea Crown Court last August after he admitted attacking Wayne Davies, causing grievous bodily harm. 

Mr Davies was left with a shattered jaw - needing the insertion of surgical plates - after he clashed with Younger in the centre of Haverfordwest in March 2014.

Younger, of Lower Hill Street, Hakin, felled Mr Davies with a punch, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave told London's Appeal Court today.

He then finished his victim off with a savage kick as he lay helpless on the ground. 

Younger and Mr Davies had fallen out over a "trivial amount of money", the court heard.

The attacker had chased his victim "a long way" before launching the attack.

Mr Davies needed extensive surgery to treat his fractured jaw, and was still suffering the effects 17 months after his ordeal. 

But Younger's case reached the Appeal Court today as his legal team challenged his sentence, claiming it was much too harsh.

Lawyers argued he had been sentenced on the wrong basis and had never in fact laid a foot on Mr Davies.

But Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said: "This was a nasty street attack which included a severe blow which broke the victim's jaw.

"There was then a kick while the victim was defenceless on the ground.

"In our judgment, a 16-month sentence cannot in any way be considered manifestly excessive." 

The judge, sitting with Lady Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Dingemans, dismissed the appeal.