A drunken yob launched a vicious attack against a man, his wife and their son after walking into their garden.

Shayne Francis had been drinking elsewhere and said he had no memory of how he ended up on Arnold Road in Bolton.

But Bolton Crown Court heard in November last year he entered a garden on that road.

Francis, who was approached by a father who lived there, responded by attacking and grabbing him, pushing him to the floor and striking his head.

When the man’s wife intervened he pulled her hair.

And when the son of the couple tried to restrain Francis he punched his head three or four times.

Francis said to the family he was going to return and kill them.

The incident lasted between 10 and 15 minutes and police were called.

Francis was detained shortly after and told officers he had no memory of the incident.

The 35-year-old appeared in court to be sentenced after admitting two counts of actual bodily harm, one of assault and one of affray.

Niamh McGinty, prosecuting, spoke about the impact of the attack on the family who were unknown to Francis.

She said the father was “worried the defendant would return” and “feared for the safety of his family".

The court heard Francis had previous convictions for actual bodily harm, battery and being drunk and disorderly.

Kay Driver, defending, said: “He was suffering from depression.

“He was reliant on alcohol to deal with his bereavement having lost his mother in July 2021.

“He doesn’t know why he ended up in Bolton.

“He wishes to apologise for the family for his behaviour.”

She said before this he had not offended since 2017 and had stayed out of trouble since.

Judge Tom Gilbart said: “You assaulted three people, it is an utterly appalling incident in their own property.

“It is so serious there must be a custodial sentence.”

He jailed Francis, from Fifth Avenue, Manchester, for 18 months.

He also imposed a restraining order forbidding Francis to contact the family or enter their home which will run for five years.