A man who attacked his father, smashing his eye socket, has been jailed for 21 months.

It was the third time 25-year-old Gurvinder Singh Bhogal had assaulted his father.

Leicester Crown Court was told the latest incident happened at the family home, in Leicester, on May 19 last year, when the defendant objected to his alcoholic father having another drink.

Ben Isaacs, prosecuting, said: "He punched his father several times."

It caused a shattered left eye socket and bruising to his thigh, torso, abdomen and shoulder.

Bhogal was on bail at the time for an earlier common assault on his father in December 2010 – for which he has since served a four-month sentence.

He has also previously received two cautions, for assaults on his father and his brother.

Mr Isaacs said the 58-year-old victim did not wish his son to be prosecuted and had wanted the proceedings discontinued.

Bhogal, of George Street, St Matthew's, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, on the basis no more than three punches were involved.

Judge Simon Hammond said: "This is a very sad case. One never likes to see families in turmoil. The defendant's father is an alcoholic.

"It's an illness and he doesn't deserve to be punched in the face and have his eye socket smashed.

"The defendant is a bully. To hit your father like that is unacceptable. Vulnerable people deserve protection."

Paul Prior, in mitigation, said: "By pleading guilty, he's spared his father from giving evidence.

"It erupted out of an argument between a son and father, who had unfortunately developed an alcohol problem.

"The family used to be relatively affluent but fell on hard times and the defendant saw his father struggle with alcohol, lose his job and ultimately lose the family home and my client found it extremely difficult.

"He's not been able to deal with the disappointment and anger at the change he saw in his father. At some point they are going to undergo a reconciliation. It may be that a community order would help in preparation for that."

But Judge Hammond said the offence was too serious for a non-custodial sentence.