A disgruntled builder who battered his boss after he was accused of SKIVING has walked free from court.
Robert Morris, 52, launched a brutal attack on his employer Colin Amos after he asked him what he had been doing in the site office.
He told Mr Amos, 54, to “shove his job” before pushing him to the ground and booting him repeatedly in the face on October 22 last year.
Mr Amos was taken to hospital where he needed four stitches to a cut above his left eye.
He also suffered bruising to his nose, face and forehead as well as a lump to his jaw and a split lip.
Morris, from Leek, Staffs., pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court last Friday.
He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay Mr Amos £500 compensation.
Morris was slapped with a 12 month supervision order and told to attend a 60-day anger management workshop.
Judge Paul Glenn told Morris: “Mr Amos was your boss and also a friend.
“He confronted you about your performance at work but you put the boot in. This cost you your job.”
The court heard Morris was working as a groundworker and digger operator at the site in Leek, Staffs., when Mr Amos questioned him.
After being accused of ‘skiving’ Morris claimed he had been examining the building plans before launching at his boss.
Prosecutor David Bennett said: “Mr Amos can recall a boot to the right side of his face.
“He was unsure how many times this happened.
“The next thing he can recall is being covered in blood and mud. He saw the defendant walking off.
“The defendant returned with a shovel and the complainant feared for his safety.
“The defendant appeared really angry and volatile and the complainant felt he had to apologise to defuse the situation.”
Mr Amos went to Leek Moorlands Hospital before being taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.
When he was arrested Morris said there was a heated argument as Mr Amos believed he had been skiving.
The boss told him to get off the site, so Mr Morris jumped out of the digger and both men started fighting.
He said the complainant fell to the ground and he accepted a ‘red mist’ had descended and he kicked Mr Amos.
Stephen Oldham, defending, said: “He is thoroughly ashamed of himself.
“He is sorry for the injuries caused to Mr Amos.”
Morris refused to comment outside court.
