AN UNEMPLOYED man who assaulted his mother for giving hot porridge to his niece was jailed for four months on Wednesday.

Hong Kia Cheng, 43, pleaded guilty to punching Madam Lim Guan Eng, 67, and assaulting her with a wooden dining chair at their flat in Clementi on Aug 25 last year.

A district court heard that Madam Lim had told her five-year-old granddaughter to eat the porridge slowly as it was hot.

Shortly after, Hong scolded his mother for giving the girl the hot bowl of porridge. He then punched her on the head and swung the chair at her.

Madam Lim who used her hands to block the assault suffered a fractured bone on her left arm.

Hong's lawyer Pratap Kishan said the mother had forgiven his son and they had reconciled.

He said Hong regretted his actions and had learnt a bitter lesson.

Hong could have been jailed for up to one year and/or fined up to $1,000 for voluntarily causing hurt.