A MAN flew into a rage after he let himself into his girlfriend's home and found another man in her bed.

Luke Buckle punched the man in the head and assaulted his girlfriend.

Bolton Crown Court heard how 31-year-old Buckle and the woman had been in an on/off relationship for 16 months.

"The complainant felt that he was controlling in his behaviour — so much so that she felt isolated from her family and friends," said Virginia Hayton, prosecuting.

During arguments there was damage to furniture, ornaments and holes punched in walls.

Miss Hayton told how, on February 16 the woman had allowed her friend to stay the night at her home.

"She described how he slept, fully clothed on the bed next to her," said Miss Hayton.

But at 9am the next morning Buckle let himself into the house and found them in the bedroom.

"He became immediately incensed by the fact that the victim was in her bedroom with a friend," said Miss Hayton.

Buckle punched the man in the face, leaving him with bruises and grazing and also attacked his girlfriend when she tried to get between them. She suffered a black eye and bruises.

The court heard that two days earlier, during a row, Buckle has put the woman headlock so that she drifted in and out of consciousness.

Buckle, of Stainer Place, Horwich, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault.

He has spent time in custody awaiting sentence and Colin Buckle, defending, appealed to the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh, not to imprison him further.

The judge handed Luke Buckle a community order for two years on condition that he participates in an alcohol treatment programme and 20 days of rehabilitation activities and undertakes 120 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Walsh said: "He has got an appalling history of domestic violence compounded by substance misuse and heavy intake of alcohol.

"The probation service believe that they can work with him to address his thinking deficiencies and reduce the risk to future partners."