A THUG who stamped on a man's face in Prestwich has been punished for his 100th criminal offence.

Wesley Allen, aged 30, of Dalbeattie Street, Blackley, carried out a "prolonged and frenzied" attack on Marc Ferns in front of scores of shocked witnesses and then stole his belongings, a court heard.

The attack was so fierce that Allen left a footprint on the face of victim Marc Ferns.

Allen, said to be "genuinely remorseful", he had been drinking and could not recall exactly what happened and Judge Peter Davies jailed him for 21 months at Bolton Crown Court on Monday.

The court heard that Allen and Mr Ferns met about 8.30pm on September 19, had a couple of drinks together at Ferns’ house in Prestwich and went to a pub.

After a few more drinks, the pair called a taxi and left around 10.30pm.

The taxi called at an off-licence where they bought more alcohol before stopping off at Ferns's address.

Prosecution counsel Louise Kitchen said: "The defendant wanted to go into the house but Mr Fern said that wasn't a good idea because his auntie was due home and she held the defendant responsible for the removal of property that had disappeared previously."

An argument broke out and Allen punched Mr Ferns in the face.

He then dragged Mr Ferns out of the taxi and continued to punch and kick him in the face before stamping on his head. He suffered injuries to his back and head.

Witnesses tried to intervene and Allen threw a beer can at one of them, Paula Fuller, before leaving in the taxi with Mr Ferns' trainers, alcohol and wallet, containing £20.

A short time later, Allen returned to the scene and gave the wallet back, though the £20 was gone.

Allen admitted assault and theft at an earlier hearing on March 2.

Defence counsel Michael James said: "The defendant accepts he behaved in a disgraceful manner.

"He is genuinely remorseful. He has stated to me that he intends to never come before a court again."

Allen, the court heard, has 48 previous convictions for 99 offences, including violence, possession of weapons and breach of court orders.

Judge Davies added:"I fear your interest in alcohol is unhealthy and that you had had far too much on the day in question.

"This was a prolonged and frenzied attack carried out in front of members of the public."