A man wrapped his hands around a woman’s neck in an argument over a debt owed by his friend, Swindon Crown Court heard.

Darren Bosworth stormed round to the home of his friend’s neighbour on February 9 after the pal claimed she was bullying him to return money she had lent him so he could pay off a drugs debt.

She tried to shut the door after telling the pair to go away, but 35-year-old Bosworth jammed it open with his foot.

Prosecutor Catherine Flint said he slammed the door back, knocking the woman in the head and put his hands around her throat. “She believed he was going to strangle her.”

Her brother came into the hallway and tried to separate them but was headbutted then punched by Bosworth. A second man intervened and eventually managed to restrain the attacker. Bosworth shouted: “When I get out I’m coming back to get her.”

Appearing via video link from HMP Bristol, Bosworth, formerly of Gloucester Road, Trowbridge, admitted causing actual bodily harm and two counts of assault by beating.

Tom Wilkins, defending, said his client had gone to the home with good intentions but matters got out of hand. Since being jailed in April for assaulting ambulance workers he had been diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression. He was finding the mental health support in prison so helpful he wanted more time behind bars.

Bosworth was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment. Judge Peter Crabtree said: “I accept that you went there initially with the best of intentions, but you cannot – as you understand – take the law into your own hands.”