A TWENTY-three-year-old man has been jailed after he attacked a man with a hammer.

Umar Baig of Parsonage Street, Bury was sentenced to three years and 65 days at Bolton Crown Court for causing grievous bodily harm and breaching a suspended sentence previously given to him for causing grievous bodily harm on a separate occasion.

Baig pleaded guilty to the more recent charge at an earlier hearing.

On Thursday 10 Aprilt his year, the 27-year-old victim visited a friend who lived on Parsonage Street, Bury.

Later, Baig knocked at the door and when the victim and his friend answered Baig tried to punch them, but missed.

The victim chased Baig from the doorway and Baig ran into a house next door.

The victim later walked onto the street, and noticed Baig standing at the corner of Parsonage Street and Shaw Street.

Baig then pulled a hammer from behind his back and ran towards the victim.

He started to run away and felt a thud at the back of his head. He fell to the floor and was hit two more times, once on his lower left arm and once to his hand.

Baig was startled by a car horn and ran back to his house leaving the victim lying in the street.

Paramedics arrived to tend to the victim and police officers had to force entry to Baig's house, arresting him and seizing two hammers.

Detective Constable Abid Sardar of Bury CID said: "This was a vicious and unprovoked attack on a man who had simply gone to visit a friend.

"Baig's actions were completely unacceptable and I'm glad he has faced justice today."