A MAN in a drunken rage who tried to strangle his landlord in row over housework and only stopped when a pint pot was smashed over his head.

Matthew Williams had lodged with his victim John Brookes and his ex-wife Jacqueline Barnes at their home in Rusland Drive, Breightmet, for more than two years, Bolton Crown Court heard.

But Amanda Johnson, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court how, on August 11 last year, Williams had been drinking up to 15 cans of Stella lager throughout the day.

“An argument started with the defendant accusing Mr Brookes of not doing his share of the housework,” said Ms Johnston.

She added that Ms Barnes saw Williams draw a finger across his throat before going into the kitchen, followed by Mr Brookes, who was intending to go outside for a cigarette.

“The defendant then lost his temper. He was shouting loudly and said that if he wanted to kill Mr Brookes he would ‘just do it’,” said Ms Johnson.

When Mr Brookes told him to go outside Williams grabbed him with both hands around the throat, only stopping when Ms Barnes ran into the kitchen and screamed at him.

But the argument continued as Mr Brookes, who was recovering from a stroke he had suffered earlier in the year, sat on a sofa to pull his boots on.

“The defendant told him he was not going to leave and that he loved him,” said Ms Johnson.

But after Ms Barnes told Williams that he should go he grabbed Mr Brookes by the throat again.

“The two men wrestled together and the defendant punched him,” said Ms Johnson.

“Ms Barnes was doing her very best to pull the defendant off but couldn’t. She then resorted to grabbing a pint glass from a nearby table and smashing it over the defendant’s head.”

Williams fled from the house and was arrested by police later as he tried to return.

Mr Brookes suffered cuts and bruises and 27-year-old Williams pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm.

When interviewed by police Williams said he was drunk and did not know why he had attacked Mr Brookes.

The court heard that Williams, who worked as a scaffolder, has 16 convictions for 21 previous offences including a suspended prison sentence for harassment and a public order offence imposed two weeks before he attacked Mr Brookes.

Kevin Liston, defending, described the assault as an isolated incident and said that Williams, a father-of-one, had always previously behaved himself in Mr Brookes’ home and is remorseful.

“He concedes, that for a number of years, he has had a drink issue,” said Mr Liston.

Judge Graeme Smith sentenced Williams to 10 months in prison for the assault plus a further 10 weeks for breaching the suspended sentence.

He told Williams: “It appears to have been an unprovoked and sustained assault on somebody who was known to have health issues.

“Fortunately the injuries to John Brookes were not particularly serious.”

A restraining order was made banning Williams from contacting Mr Brookes.