An Oldham man who tried to run over his neighbour and threatened to burn his house down has been jailed.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard Paul Brooks formed the wrong impression that a man who lived nearby to him had previously tried to run him off the road in his car.

After sending threats on social media he turned up at his front door and issued threats in April.

Later that day the two men were in a car park and Brooks drove his vehicle at the man, and eventually collided with a fence.

After this he claimed he would burn down his house with his children inside.

The following day he turned up again and struck his vehicle, causing around £400 of damage.

The following month police went to arrest Brooks at an address in Royton.

They found him hiding in a storage cupboard, but he resisted arrest causing one officer to suffer grazes to his arm.

The 30-year-old had initially denied the offences but later admitted to attempting to cause aggravated bodily harm, issuing threats, criminal damage and an assault on an emergency service worker.

Prosecutor Jack Troup revealed the impact it had on the neighbour, who has since left the area.

He read a victim impact statement, which said: “No person has the right to threaten me or my family.

“I believe he is capable of carrying out these threats.”

It added that he had a child who was “in and out of hospital” and this had affected the time he can spend with him.

The court heard that during an interview with the probation team ahead of sentence Brooks had stormed out.

Representing him, defence counsel John Hargan said he felt he had been judged for previous offending and had been due to see professionals about mental health difficulties.

Imposing a sentence, recorder Eric Lamb: “I am aware of your mental health difficulties.

“You have demonstrated what I accept is genuine remorse.

“Your offending is so serious that only a custodial sentence may be justified for it.”

He jailed Brooks, from Shaw Street in Royton, for nine months.