A SHAW RIDGE man "lost it" when he kicked down a family's door and beat up a father in front of his two-year-old daughter, a court heard, before jailing him for six months.

Stephen Dobson, 35, of Oakwood Road, intervened in an argument between Brian Tuckwell and his neighbour in Tintagel Close.

Dobson left the scene but returned when he heard Mr Tuckwell had verbally insulted his girlfriend.

Dobson kicked down the door to Mr Tucker's house and followed him into the kitchen, where he began punching him.

Robin Shellard, for the prosecution, said Dobson had "lost it."

Mr Tuckwell suffered extensive bruising to his face, chest, arms and back.

At Swindon Crown Court on Friday Dobson admitted affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Sarah Regan, for the defence, said: "This was a spur-of-the-moment loss of temper and something he deeply regrets."

Judge Charles Wade, passing sentence, told the defendant he had a problem with drink.

"It appears you did little more than butt into a situation which was nothing to do with you," he said.

"You broke open Mr Tucker's front door and grabbed him by the throat and proceeded to punch him.

"His wife became hysterical and his daughter was petrified.

"This was gratuitous violence in a place where the victim should be entitled to feel safe."