A THUG who barged his way into a flat and hit a man over the head with a hatchet has been jailed for 18 months.

Bolton Crown Court heard how victim, Michael Perkins had been at the Bolton Food and Drink Festival on August 24 and made his way back to the bus station at around 7pm.

Duncan Wilcock, prosecuting, said he encountered a woman called Helen there and they went back to his flat at Fernstead, Deane, for a drink.

At midnight the woman left to go home and Mr Perkins went to bed.

"Five hours later he was woken by stones being thrown at his window," said Mr Wilcock.

The woman had come back and asked to stay, so he let her in.

But 90 minutes later Mr Perkins was woken by knocking at his door and the woman's partner, Sean Finn was outside.

He asked to speak to her but became impatient waiting for her to get dressed and come to the door.

"The defendant barged at [Mr Perkins] and forced his way into the flat," said Mr Wilcock.

Finn forced Mr Perkins into the living room, claiming the woman owed him money.

Mr Perkins offered to pay but Finn became angry and punched him on the nose.

The victim picked up a kitchen knife to try and defend himself.

"That wound up the defendant more and he became more threatening," said Mr Wilcock.

When Mr Perkins put down the knife and tried to persuade Finn to go, he became angry, pulled out a hatchet and struck it down on his victim's head. The court heard Mr Perkins was left with a bloody nose, an inch-long gash above his eyebrow and a cut thumb.

Police arrived after being called by neighbours who heard the disturbance.

Finn, aged 36, of Rogerstead, Deane, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and possessing a weapon.

Mark Friend, defending, said Finn, who was addicted to drugs, accepts his response to his partner being at Mr Perkin's home was "inappropriate".

"He accepts it got out of hand and that was his fault," he said.

But he stressed that most of his previous offending has been shoplifting to support his drug addiction and violence is "out of character".

Jailing Finn, Judge Timothy Stead said "Mr Perkins was entitled to enjoy the peace of his own home without being attacked by you."

The judge also made a restraining order banning Finn from going to Fernstead or contacting Mr Perkins for five years.