A MAN was jailed after he armed himself with a knife and attacked work colleagues in "retribution", a court heard.

Jamie Morse, aged 27, of Mount Pleasant Estate, Abertillery , took a kitchen knife and drove to RF Brookes food factory in Rogerstone in the early hours of November 21 last year after his girlfriend came home upset, claiming she has been bullied, Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday.

When he arrived he searched out Yohannes Hailemichael and Jamie Griffiths, who worked there along with the defendant and his girlfriend.

He said he wanted to cover his girlfriend's shift but when told this wasn't possible he punched Mr Griffiths to the ear, the court heard, and was then restrained by Mr Hailemichael.

As father-of-two Morse struggled to get free, Mr Hailemichael felt pressure on his stomach and realised Morse had a knife which he was moving backwards and forwards as if trying to stab him, the court heard.

The two managed to wrestle the knife from Morse and restrain him until police arrived, when Morse was arrested.

John Warren, prosecuting, said: "Mr Hailemichael said he was shocked and scared during the incident, believing the defendant was trying to stab him and was capable of doing so."

Morse told police: "I put it in my pocket to scare them. I had no intention of causing serious harm to my colleagues."

After the incident he was fired, the court heard.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Griffiths said he had suffered from depression since the incident and has been off sick from work.

Hugh Wallace, defending, said: "There's no doubt he lost his rag completely. He told the police everything - he's ashamed of himself.

Morse admitted possession of a bladed article, affray and assault by beating. He was sentenced to eight months in prison for the first two offences and two months for the latter, to run concurrently. He was also ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge and given a restraining order banning him from any contact with the victims for five years.