SINGAPORE - A man who struck another on the head with a metal object three times was sentenced to two months' jail on Tuesday (March 1).

Desmond Lin Jiaqi, 23, pleaded guilty to hurting Mr Colin Chan Wei Ming, 18, outside Causeway Point at Woodlands Square on Jan 4 last year.

The court heard that Lin was with his girlfriend and a few others at Nex shopping centre in Upper Serangoon when he heard that one of their friends had been slapped by someone named Qi Sheng who was from another gang.

He and his friends decided to go to Causeway Point to look for Qi Sheng to settle the matter.

The group arrived at the shopping mall at about 6.50pm and confronted a group of Qi Sheng's friends, including Mr Chan, outside McDonald's.

One of Lin's friends began talking with one of the victim's friends. Qi Sheng was not present.

Lin and Mr Chan got into a verbal dispute. Each began challenging the other. Lin took out a metal object resembling a spanner from his back and hit Mr Chan's head with the object three times. They were separated by Mr Chan's friends.

Mr Chan suffered cuts on the head and on the left eyebrow.

Lin had previously been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder.

He has previous convictions for theft and causing hurt to deter a public servant.

A second similar charge was taken into consideration.

District Judge John Ng allowed Lin to defer sentence until March 22. He told Lin that he hoped he would not get himself into this situation as there were other ways of dealing with conflicts that should not involve violence.

"You hurt not only other people you hit but also your own family members and yourself,'' he said.

The maximum penalty for causing hurt is two years' jail and a $5,000 fine.