SINGAPORE - An odd-job labourer who slashed his elderly neighbour in the face with a screwdriver in a row over litter was jailed for four months on Thursday.

Oh It Meng, 49, originally accused of causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of hurting Mr Goh Tee Tee, 67, outside the victim's unit at Block 432 Bukit Panjang Ring Road on Feb 18 this year.

A district court heard that Mr Goh had returned home to find the corridor outside his unit had been cleaned and washed by the estate's cleaner.

At about 6.15pm, he was watering his potted plants outside the flat when he saw some litter.

He told Oh, who was standing outside his own unit with a screwdriver, not to dirty the corridor the next time - but Oh denied he had left the mess.

An altercation ensued, during which Oh slashed the victim's face with the screwdriver before fleeing.

Mr Goh, whose forehead was bleeding, called the police. He was treated in hospital for a cut forehead and released the same day.

A second charge of stealing Mr Goh's pouch, which contained two keys and $20, was considered during his sentencing.

Oh was freed from prison as the court backdated his sentence to his remand on Feb 21.

He could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000 for voluntarily causing hurt.