A man “stormed” into his victim’s living room and viciously assaulted him without giving him time to stand up.

Gareth Davies, aged 43 of Brookdale Close, Bolton, went to Tyrone Allenby’s house in February last year after becoming angry following an argument with a woman.

He found Mr Allenby sat in his living room and, not giving him a chance to stand up, beat him with his fists for around two minutes.

At Bolton Crown Court Eleanor Gleeson, prosecuting, said: “He stormed into the living room with anger in his eyes.”

She told the court how the victim had been left with a fractured eye socket, a broken nose, a cut lip and needed to be treated at Royal Bolton Hospital.

A victim impact statement read by Ms Gleeson, Mr Allenby said: “This has affected me mentally the most, I’m wary of knocks at the door.”

She said that Mr Allenby was now also anxious and afraid when leaving the house.

Davies pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and Mark Friend, defending, stressed that “fists alone” had been used in the assault.

Mr Friend said that Davies has expressed “genuine remorse”, is now in stable employment, and has worked hard at tackling his addictions to drugs and alcohol.

He said: “The probation service can see hope for him.”

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh told Davies: “This was an assault upon a man inside his house whilst he was sitting down, he didn’t have time to get up.”

He added: “It was, in my view, a sustained assault with fists, no weapon, but a sustained assault, that left him in need of hospital treatment.”

Judge Walsh said he was “just about persuaded” not to jail Davies immediately and sentenced him to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years along with a curfew between 8pm and 6am for four months.

Davies must also complete 40 days of rehabilitation and pay £1,000 in compensation to his victim.