A man has been jailed for nine months for hitting a 12-year-old girl with a golf club.

Mohammed Ilyas, 46, leapt a garden fence and attacked the child when he saw her fighting with his nine-year-old son, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Ilyas, of Dawnay Road, Canterbury, Bradford, pleaded guilty to causing the girl actual bodily harm on August 20 last year.

Prosecutor Dave MacKay said the schoolgirl, who lives in the same neighbourhood as Ilyas, did not get on with his son. Ilyas saw the pair fighting in a garden and rushed to protect the boy.

He pushed the girl over, seized the golf club from her and struck her twice on the legs with it. She was taken to hospital with bruising.

Mr MacKay said that, in April 2005, Ilyas was cautioned for actual bodily harm after hitting a building contractor on the head with a piece of wood.

His solicitor advocate, Michael Reeves, said he felt remorse and shame over the latest incident.

Judge Jonathan Rose said Ilyas showed a willingness to use violence with weapons.

It was only by good luck, and the intervention of neighbours, that the girl was not more seriously injured.