VIOLENCE erupted after a man told his best friend that he was having an affair with his wife, a court was told.

Alan Ollerton told John Sweeney in front of their friends that he had been having an affair with his wife Wendy for three years.

Mr Sweeney threw beer in his friend's face and Ollerton flew into a rage and punched Mr Sweeney in the face while he had a pint pot in his hand.

During the fracas Ollerton head-butted his girlfriend Angela Whalley who had tried to stop the fight by hitting him on his back with a pool cue.

The court heard that Wendy Sweeney was now reconciled with her husband and that Ollerton had lost both relationships.

Ollerton, aged 35, formerly of Masefield Avenue in Worsley Mesnes, Wigan, and now of Cowper Street in Leigh, appeared at Bolton Magistrates Court.

He had earlier admitted the unlawful wounding of Mr Sweeney and was jailed by Recorder Ashley Murray for six months.

Jailing him for six months Recorder Ashley Murray told Ollerton: "Your behaviour that night was absolutely disgraceful."