A YOUNG man has been jailed for beating up his drinking partner after a play-fight over a can of beer flared out of control.

Kuljit Matharu, 21, of Woodgarston Drive, Hatch Warren, Basingstoke, pleaded guilty to attacking 17-year-old Matthew Smith as they drank together in Matharu's living room late at night - but claimed he had lost control after Mr Smith made racist comments about him.

Winchester Crown Court heard the victim said the assault happened after the men began play-fighting over the last can of beer.

David Jenkins, prosecuting, said: "Matthew Smith described a scuffle in which the defendant tried to headbutt him. The first two times, he didn't hit him, so he thought he was joking, but the third time, he hit him in the face."

Mr Jenkins then described how Matharu grabbed Mr Smith by the throat and punched him repeatedly, saying: "You're a racist - your behaviour and attitude offends me," before knocking him to the floor.

The court heard Matharu then fetched a rolling pin from the kitchen and cracked his head open with it, hitting the teenager again as he fled to the door.

Mr Smith, who denied making racist comments, suffered a head gash, swollen jaw, lips and ears, a bloody nose and a chipped tooth.

Eleanor Davies, defending, said the attack, like Matharu's two previous convictions for damaging property, was alcohol-fuelled, but added that he has been attending classes about alcohol misuse.

Judge Jeremy Burford, passing sentence, gave Matharu credit for his guilty plea and took into account his mitigation, but added: "I am in no doubt that this attack is serious enough to justify a custodial period."

He gave Matharu an eight-month custodial sentence, four months of which will be suspended.