The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A lorry driver struck a colleague with a metal bar following a dispute over a spilled cup of coffee.
Terry Townsend challenged Robert Smalley (59) after discovering the spilled drink in his cab at the Mark Goddard Transport depot in Moulton Seas End.
Phil Howes, prosecuting at Lincoln Crown Court on Tuesday, said Townsend grabbed Mr Smalley and was pushed back.
“Townsend shouted ‘I’m going to kill you’ before going to his lorry and returning with the metal bar.
“He hit Mr Smalley on the back and head and knocked him over. When he tried to get up he was hit on the wrist, causing swelling and grazes.”
Townsend (52), of Grove Street, Great Hale, near Sleaford, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm as a result of the incident on June 16.
Judge Stuart Rafferty gave him a nine-month jail sentence suspended for a year with 12 months’ supervision. Townsend was also ordered to pay £250 compensation.
The judge told Townsend: “I accept that at the time this happened you were under a great deal of personal stress.
“That explains why on this particular day, with so little cause for provocation, you behaved in the way you did.
“You armed yourself with a weapon after the argument had taken place. If I thought for a moment you had done so intending to cause serious injury with it you would have gone straight to prison.
“It was an ugly incident with an ugly and unnecessary injury.”
