Derbyshire man punched employer's son for 'getting him fired over leaving drink with colleague'

A Derbyshire man punched the son of his former employer after he got his the sack from his job as a trainee carpet fitter, a court heard.
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BrandonLayton assaulted the man, identified in court as Ricky Hadfield, on November 4 after he reported the 22-year-old for going for a leaving drink with a colleague during work time, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Monday, February 17.

Prosecuting, Becky Allsop said that several weeks later, the pair had passed each other in separate vehicles, and Layton had then followed Mr Hadfield and punched him twice - knocking him to the ground - when he got out of his van.

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Layton, of Central Close, Shirebrook, had been working as an apprentice for Castle Carpets, also in Shirebrook, for over a year when the incident occurred, and that Mr Hadfield was the son of the owners, she said.

Chesterfield Magistrates Court, where Brandon Layton was sentenced for punching the son of his former employerChesterfield Magistrates Court, where Brandon Layton was sentenced for punching the son of his former employer
Chesterfield Magistrates Court, where Brandon Layton was sentenced for punching the son of his former employer

“He had previously been an employee, but he was dismissed because he was seen drinking alcohol in a public house when he should have been at work and Ricky Hadfield had reported him to his parents,” Mrs Allsop told the court.

She said that Mr Hadfield had been in a van at a colleague who had waved and smiled at Layton as they passed, but Layton had mistakenly believed that Mr Hadfield had been “gesturing and smirking at him”, not the colleague.

As Mr Hadfield climbed from his vehicle, Layton had punched him twice to his face, causing a wound above his eye which required stitches, the court heard.

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Mitigating, David Watts, said that Layton had been employed with the firm for over a year on an apprenticeship, but that he had felt bullied and unsupported by the firm, which forbade him from eating his lunch in company vehicles.

He also discovered that staff referred to him as “sick note” because he had to taken time off to attend hospital appointments following a diagnosis for Crohn’s disease.

Layton, who admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, was given a 12-week prison term, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation.