A MAN who attacked his girlfriend and friend in a row over £20 has been jailed for five years.

Phillip Oakley attacked girlfriend Donna Thompson on May 22, before later visiting his friend James Williams and hitting him over the head with the lid of a pressure cooker.

The attacks started after a benefit payment which was due to go into Oakley's and Miss Thompson’s joint account did not come through.

Oakley, of no fixed abode, had been out drinking with Mr Williams and Miss Thompson on May 21 and had borrowed £20 from his friend.

He promised to pay Mr Williams back once the payment came through at midnight.

Bolton Crown Court heard that, at about midnight, Miss Thompson left her home in Bromwich Street, The Haulgh, to see if the money had come through.

But she returned a short while later to tell her boyfriend that the money had not been paid into the account, leading Oakley to accuse her of taking the cash.

The argument continued to an upstairs bathroom, where Oakley punched Miss Thompson in the lip before hitting her with a bath panel.

Miss Thompson then picked up a mirror and smashed it, causing Mr Oakley to move back, before she ran away and hid at her father’s flat.

Then at about 4am on May 22, Oakley went to Mr Williams’ home in Emmanuel Place asking him where Miss Thompson was.

His friend said he did not know at which point Oakley attacked him.

Mr Williams suffered injuries to his scalp and had to have five stitches.

Oakley, aged 52, has 24 previous convictions dating back to 1979, including a three-year jail sentence for wounding with intent.

Thomas Fitzpatrick, defending, said: “Mr Oakley knows what he has done and has shown remorse for his actions.

“He is a different person now because he has no access to alcohol.”

Oakley pleaded guilty to one charge of causing grievous bodily harm and one charge of actual bodily harm.

Judge Timothy Stead said: “You got yourself into a quarrel over a small sum of money. Fortunately for you, Mr Williams doesn’t appear to have suffered brain injuries.

“Your attack on Miss Thompson was an attack on someone who is not as capable as you of defending themselves.

“Both complainants have said they are frightened of you as a result of your actions.”