A BOLTON man involved in an armed attack at another man's home in Atherton has been jailed for two-and-a-half-years.

Wendy Nilsen, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that on June 7 last year, Paul Weaver was one of five men who went to the flat of David Ratcliffe in Samuel Street, Atherton.

They were armed with weapons including bars and bats. Weaver had a pick-axe handle.

The other four men broke into the premises and caused £850 worth of damage to property.

Mr Ratcliffe was so frightened that he jumped out of a window of his first-floor home.

Weaver, aged 22, of Bury Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and having an offensive weapon.

Michael Cohen, defending, said that Weaver's participation had not been planned.

He said: "It is possible there was a hidden agenda between the other perpetrators and the complainant of which he had no knowledge."

He said that Weaver had no similar previous convictions and had been the only one of the attackers to be caught.

Weaver had been drinking at the time but had not been involved in causing damage inside the flat.

Judge John Roberts told Weaver that only a prison term could be justified.

He took into account that Weaver had not gone into the premises and that it would be his first custodial sentence.