SINGAPORE - A sales demonstrator who struck the head of another with a beer mug at a coffeeshop was jailed for nine months on Monday.

Tan Boon Hai, 32, pleaded guilty to hurting Mr Toh Chui Lim, 62, unemployed, with the beer mug at the coffeeshop at Teck Whye Lane at 2.42am on Jan 28 this year.

A district court heard that the victim went to the coffeeshop to drink beer with his friends at about 1am that day.

After taking two bottles of beer, he was slightly drunk. He saw Tan sitting at a different table.

Mr Toh was leaving the coffeeshop when he was attacked by Tan, who also stomped on his upper body when the victim fell to the ground.

Mr Toh suffered a 4cm-long cut on the head.

Two other charges of committing a rash act and hurting his wife were considered during his sentencing.

He has two previous convictions for rioting.

District Judge Lim Tse Haw told Tan, who was represented by Mr Ravinderpal Singh, that what he had done was a very serious matter. He said he should himself fortunate that the prosecution was not asking for caning in this case.

Tan could have been jailed for up to seven years, fined, caned or receive any combined punishment.