A man who attacked his neighbour with a hammer after an argument about his pet rabbits was yesterday handed a suspended jail sentence.

Adam Hewett, of Bramble Bank, Madley Park, Witney, admitted hitting Nicholas Wood over the head with the mallet - but claimed it was in self-defence.

Oxford Crown Court heard the pair had been involved in a long-running dispute. On the night of the attack, last July, RSPCA officers called at Wood's house after receiving a false tip-off that he was not caring for his pet rabbits properly.

Tim Boswell, prosecuting, said Wood suspected Hewett was behind the tip-off and went to confront him.

He said: "A scuffle ensued on the floor, in which Hewett was punched. He (Hewett) grabbed the nearest object, which was a mallet. He (Hewett) hit him once on the head."

Hewett, 43, admitted causing actual bodily harm. The court heard Wood, 38, also of Bramble Bank, was later convicted of common assault in relation to the incident and was given a conditional discharge by magistrates.

Ben Narain, defending, said: "Hewett was in his own house. He grabbed the nearest thing to him, it was a rubber mallet and he used it once."

Mr Recorder David Altarasok sentenced Hewett to 24 weeks in jail, suspended for two years, gave him an 18-month supervision order, ordered him to attend an anger management course and ordered to pay £500 costs.

He said: "Wood was the initial aggressor."