A THUG who stabbed a man on his own doorstep has been spared jail after a judge heard how he has begun to turn his life around.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Shane Allen turned up at Colin Baker’s home in Inverlael Avenue, Bolton at 8.30pm on December 28.

Judge Richard Gioserano was told that there had been a dispute years earlier over damage to a car.

The men got into an argument where Allen threatened to shoot his victim and attack his family before pulling out a knife, stabbing Mr Barker in the shin and leaving him with a small puncture wound.

Allen, aged 26, had been drinking and taking drugs and he returned to his friend Lisa Emmet’s home in Jedburgh Avenue where he got into another argument and, when asked to leave, grabbed her by the throat.

Allen, from Bolton, but bailed to live in Withins End Lane, Rishworth, Halifax, pleaded guilty to affray, possessing a knife and threatening behaviour.

Mark Friend, defending said: “These were unpleasant, unacceptable and appalling offences and he accepts as much.”

He added that for five years he had stayed out of trouble until his relationship broke down and he went ‘off the rails’.

“He was drinking heavily and using a prodigious amount of class A drugs and his behaviour spiralled out of control,” he said.

“He is now in a position to recognise the triggers that led to his criminal behaviour.”

Judge Gioserano sentenced Allen to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered him to undertake 150 hours’ unpaid work. He must also participate in 30 days of rehabilitation activities and a violent offenders’ programme.