A THUG who made his neighbours' lives a misery by repeatedly threatening them and hurling glass into their garden, has been jailed for 15 months.

Christopher Marr went to stay at his mother's home in Stone Street, Tonge Moor, last year but Bolton Crown Court heard that he soon fell out with neighbour Luke Williamson and his partner Chloe Lynch after objecting to them smoking in their garden.

Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, said Marr could be heard "ranting and raving" in the garden on several occasions.

"It seemed that Mr Marr took exception to the fact that Mr Williamson and his partner were smokers," said Miss Mottram.

"He made several comments relating to them smoking cannabis in the garden which Mr Williamson and his partner both denied. They smoke cigarettes only."

On July 18 the couple were with a friend in their garden and Marr accused them of smoking cannabis, which they denied and said the smell was not coming from them.

"Mr Marr shouted abuse at them and claimed that they were being disrespectful towards his mother," said Miss Mottram.

The couple retreated indoors but when they ventured outside again several hours later Marr continued issuing threats and abuse.

"The defendant threatened to petrol bomb their house and made threats that he was going to send a lad round to their property and cut them up," said Miss Mottram.

Police were called and Marr was arrested but then released on bail with conditions not to contact Mr Williamson or Ms Lynch.

But Marr ignored the restriction and on July 24 he was drunk when he confronted Mr Williamson as he returned home.

The next day, at 5.30am Mr Williamson discovered that his back gate, garden chairs and fence had scorch marks on them.

CCTV showed Marr at the front of the property in the early hours of the morning but when questioned by Mr Williamson, he appeared to snigger and denied he had caused the damage.

As a result of the ongoing animosity, police placed an officer outside Mr Williamson's home on August 14 and 15.

The court heard that on August 15 the officer witnessed Marr, who appeared drunk, repeatedly coming out of his home and shouting abuse, telling Mr Williamson "I will f***ing kill you".

Marr was arrested again, but denied committing any offences, claiming his neighbour was making false allegations to get him into trouble.

The defendant was given bail again but on November 27, at 4.30pm Mr Williamson was at home when he heard Marr shouting, "we'll smash the windows and stab his girlfriend".

An hour later he heard glass smashing at the back of the house and Marr was hanging out of his mother's bathroom window shouting threats and hurling bottles into Mr Williamson's garden.

There were further threats an hour later when Marr could be heard outside Mr Williamson's house shouting: "I'm going to waste you. I have a mate who is doing 13 years for an ammonia attack".

Construction worker Marr, aged 34, was remanded in custody and charged with two counts of harassment by making threats to cause fear of violence. He denied the offences but was convicted following a trial at Wigan Magistrates' Court and sent to the Crown Court for sentence.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh heard that Marr has several previous convictions for offences including violence and harassment.

Mr Williamson, who has since moved from the street, told police that he is now constantly anxious and afraid for his partner and children.

James Heyworth, defending, said that, due to the 10 weeks which Marr has spent in prison he is now "suitably aware" of the seriousness of his offending.

"His offending is entrenched within his own misuse of alcohol," said Mr Heyworth.

Judge Walsh jailed Marr for 15 months and made a restraining order banning him from going within 200 metres of his victims' home.