A fireworks firm boss has been jailed for dressing up as Crocodile Dundee and blowing up part of a family’s home in a drunken prank.

Mark Schiavo, 53, sported a hunter’s hat, shorts and long trench coat and armed himself with a hunting knife, just like the Australian hunter played by Paul Hogan in the 1980s comedy.

He then carried out a bizarre attack on a home in north Manchester - causing £15,000 worth of damage and leaving an innocent family terrified.

A court heard how he was already heavily intoxicated when he left a makeshift device - made from an industrial sized firework inside a sweet tin - outside the front door of a home on Victoria Avenue East in Blackley, on the afternoon of April 30, last year.

(Image: Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

The blast blew off the door and caused significant damage to the property and also the family’s Mitsubishi Colt car, which had been parked on the driveway.

A 56-year-old mum and her adult children were inside the house at the time. They escaped unhurt but were left terrified and may now move out of the home.

Dressed in his outlandish costume, Schiavo was filmed by quick-thinking eyewitnesses who spotted him leaving the scene.

Police later found the hunting knife dumped in nearby bushes. On his arrest, Schiavo initially told police: “I’ve just seen some kids throwing a firework, I’m not from round here, I’m just out for a run.”

(Image: Cavendish Press)

But he later refused to comment in his interview.

Officers spent three days carrying out an extensive search of Schiavo’s £300,000 house in Failsworth, fearing there could be further explosives inside. As well as the fireworks, they found 25 boxes of phenazepam, the ‘Russian equivalent’ to diazepam, with a value of £43,000. There were 50,000 tablets in total.

Additionally, 1,420 counterfeit £20 notes were located with a worth of £28,460 and long blank firearm cartridges were found in the kitchen.

No reason was ever given by Schiavo for the attack - or why the house was singled out after detectives ruled out that a 56-year-old man who lived at the property was the intended target.

(Image: Cavendish Press)

In a statement, the bemused male householder, who works as a civil servant, told police: “When I left the house at 8.10 I never dreamt someone would try to put something through my door to hurt my family inside. I feel sick and angry and can’t believe it. I don’t know whether we will ever feel safe in that home again.”

Last Friday at Manchester Crown Court, Schiavo he was jailed for three and a half years after he admitted causing an explosion likely to endanger life, possession of a bladed article in a public place, plus other offences of possessing drugs with intent to supply, possession of counterfeit currency and possession of ammunition.

In mitigation, defence lawyer Martin Callery said his client had suffered a serious back injury after an industrial accident involving his fireworks in 2013.

Mr Callery added: “He didn’t specifically target this address. Some support is found in the fact he was dressed in such a bizarre costume. I do not mention it as a prank to minimise that which he has done. This was an incident that took place when he was under the influence. This is someone who is a devoted and dedicated family man. He has throughout his life been a hardworking man, a man who his family, church and religion play a major and pivotal part. He has demonstrated remorse and demonstrated regret.”

But in passing sentence, Judge Richard Mansell QC told Schiavo: “It’s not the physical damage and financial cost you caused to the family, but the terror you induced in this innocent family. (The victim) was at work and rushed back to find his wife and children in an understandable state of terror.

“He was more concerned about the state of his family and he felt sick and angry that someone had done this. Only time will tell whether they do decide to stay there. For him the worst part was he couldn’t understand why anyone would want to target him and his family.

“You went out dressed in the manner of some survival expert and you claimed you were attending a fancy dress party dressed as Crocodile Dundee. It was simply misfortune that you happened to select their address - but they will continue to fear that you did target them.”

Schiavo previously appeared in court a decade ago for health and safety offences, after investigators caught him storing 23 tonnes of unlicensed fireworks at an industrial unit in dangerous circumstances.