SINGAPORE - An unemployed man was jailed for 10 months on Tuesday (Feb 16) for punching his elderly mother on her lip.

Vincent Lee Kim Meng, 49, had admitted to hurting Madam Tan Sui Eng, 90, at their flat in Bukit Merah View on Sept 2, 2015.

The court heard that his 57-year-old brother noticed that Lee smelled of alcohol, and that his steps were wobbly when the latter returned home that evening.

Lee entered his mother's room and she began to nag at him.

Annoyed, he punched her on her lip in a fit of anger. She screamed in pain, clutching her bleeding lip.

Lee's brother then called the police. Madam Tan was taken to hospital for treatment.

Lee had a few previous convictions for breach of personal protection order and the highest sentence he received was 12 months' jail.

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