A THUG who left a man with a fractured eye socket after attacking him with a metal bar assaulted him again weeks later while on bail, a court heard.

Paul Shaw, aged 33, was jailed for seven years at Bolton Crown Court after the two attacks on Robert Robinson.

The court heard the first attack took place at Mr Robinson's Bolton flat after Shaw and accomplice James Grailey gained entry by pretending to be police officers.

Shaw battered Mr Robinson with a bar he had found in the lobby of the flat and Grailey punched and kicked him in the assault in September last year.

Shaw had been bailed after being charged with GBH, but came across Mr Robinson again on November 1 in The Old Mule pub in the town centre. He then repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on Mr Robinson.

The court heard that Grailey's daughter Colette was an ex-partner of Mr Robinson and that he had decided to confront him with Shaw as the pair walked home from the pub.

When police arrived at the flat they found Mr Robinson with blood pouring from head wounds.

In a statement, Mr Robinson said the ordeal had knocked his confidence and ability to leave his home.

Both defendants accepted being at the flat on the day of the attack, but each claimed the other had been the instigator.

Brian McKenna, defending Shaw, said his client had a history of mental health problems, while he argued the situation involving Mr Robinson and Colette had served as provocation.

Shaw, of Langford Gardens, Great Lever, was found guilty by a jury of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to the attack carried out on bail.

He was sentenced to six years and eight months imprisonment for the metal bar attack and four months, to be served consecutively, for the second assault.

Grailey, aged 52, of Darwin Street, Halliwell, was convicted of grievous bodily harm and was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years.

Recorder Mark Ainsworth said: "The two of you had been in the pub and had a significant amount to drink. You decided to stop off at the flat where Robert Robinson was living.

"You waited outside until someone let you into the building and the evidence suggests you were inside for about 20 minutes and in that time you, Mr Shaw, found a weapon in a cupboard.

"Over the minutes that followed you inflicted serious injuries on Robert Robinson.

"It was a vicious and sustained assault."