A MAN involved in an armed raid at a home in Atherton has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Paul Weaver was one of five men who went to the flat of David Ratcliffe in Samuel Street, Atherton on June 7 last year.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday that the gang had been armed with weapons including bars and bats and Weaver had a pick axe handle.

The other four broke into the premises and caused £850 worth of damage to property and Mr Ratcliffe was so frightened he jumped out of a window of his first floor home.

Weaver, of Bury Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and possessing an offensive weapon.

His barrister, Michael Cohen, said his participation had not been planned.

Mr Cohen said: "It is possible there was a hidden agenda between the other perpetrators and the complainant of which he had no knowledge."

He said Weaver had no similar previous convictions and had been the only one of the attackers to be caught. He was into drink at the time but had not been involved in causing damage inside the flat.

A judge told Paul Weaver only a prison term could be justified but he took into account he had not personally gone into the premises and it would be his first custodial sentence.