A man ended up in court after hitting his neighbour with a wooden bat following a row over a barking dog.

Michael Crossley, 41, was spared jail after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm on his neighbour Michael Byrne.

He hit him with a wooden bat several times, but the serious injury was inflicted when 44-year-old Mr Byrne fell over and broke his ankle.

The judge told Crossley that what he did was wrong, but said there was 'considerable provocation' to the incident.

His barrister said Crossley was being kept awake by Mr Byrne's dog's barking dog as he tried to sleep before working the following day.

Manchester Crown Court heard that the pair, who used to be neighbours in Harpurhey, 'didn't get on' and that complaints had been made about the boxer-type dog in the area.

A civil injunction has previously been imposed, preventing Mr Byrne from causing a 'nuisance' with the dog, the court heard.

It came after complaints by Crossley, a civil engineer, and other residents, prosecutor Simon Barrett said.

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On December 30, 2017, the court heard Mr Byrne had been out drinking and on returning home he discovered he had lost his keys.

Mr Byrne went into another neighbour's flat and left the dog in the garden at about midnight.

Crossley became angry and armed himself with a 'two foot wooden bat', Mr Barrett said.

He went to the other neighbour's flat and the pair went outside.

There Crossley hit Mr Byrne with the bat 'several times' in the head and body.

Mr Byrne protected himself, but then fell over broke his ankle.

He was able to walk, but went to hospital the following day and found the fibula bone in his right ankle was fractured.

He also suffered less serious defensive injuries, including bruising and swelling.

Crossley has previous convictions for a 'domestic incident' and a 'public order' offence, but none for violence, the court heard.

Defending, Max Saffman said: "He needed his sleep as he had to get up the next morning, and that [the barking] doesn't improve the situation.

"Perhaps it was inevitable that something like this would happen. I don't think their paths will ever cross again."

Mr Saffman said that Crossley, who previously served in the Army, has now moved away.

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Sentencing, Judge Alan Conrad QC said: "What you did was wrong, to attack a man with a bat in the way you did.

"I accept in this case that there was considerable provocation. There was a whole background to this matter.

"You had already obtained an injunction against Mr Byrne in the light of his activities.

"Earlier that night you had telephoned the police to complain about Mr Byrne's activities."

Crossley, of Lightbowne Road, Moston, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days; 100 hours of unpaid work; and pay £250 of prosecution costs.