A MAN hit a 12-year-old boy with a piece of wood after he answered him back, Bolton Crown Court was told.

Yasin Tania was fixing the fence behind his house when he heard children nearby arguing and swearing.

He complained and, when the children answered back, he ran at them and hit the boy twice with a piece of the fence he had been holding.

The boy was taken to hospital where a three-centimetre gash was treated with three stitches.

Tania, aged 26, of Worcester Street, Halliwell, appeared for sentence. He admitted affray on August 1 last year.

Judge Arthur Rumbelow, QC, said because of his previous good character and references he would not be sent to prison. Instead he sentenced Tania to an 80-hour community rehabilitation order.