A man who hit two Chinese nationals with a metal steering wheel lock was jailed for 18 months on Friday. Jaymond Cheng Weiqi, 28, a technician, pleaded guilty to hitting the heads of Mr Li Yusi, 26, and Mr Yang Zhenyu, 27, with the 60cm-long steering lock on July 30 last year.

A court heard that Cheng was driving a van with a colleague along Geylang Road when the latter noticed three drunk men standing by the road side. As the van was driving past them, they heard a loud bang on the driver's side. Cheng stopped the van and wound down his windows and shouted at Mr Li , a manager, and Mr Yang, an administration manager, and their friend for kicking his van.

A dispute broke out between Cheng and Mr Yang. Cheng got down and approached Mr Yang with the metal steering wheel lock and swung it, hitting both Mr Yang and Mr Li on their heads. Mr Yang blacked out and fell to the ground. Subsequently, he regained consciousness and got into the driver's seat to stop Cheng from leaving. Mr Yang's friend removed the ignition key and Mr Li called the police.

Cheng had been convicted in 2008 for unlawful assembly and rioting and was given 23 months' jail.