AN ENGINEER who hit a workmate with a baseball bat has been sent to jail for a year.

James Turner, 42, attacked victim Jon Shuttleworth after he was told Mr Shuttleworth had informed bosses about missing jet engine blades from Weston's in Station Road, Foulridge, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Sentencing Turner, Miss Assistant Recorder Barbara A Forrester, said what he had done appeared to be out of character but Mr Shuttleworth had had no reason to suspect he was going to be attacked and was given no chance to defend himself.

She added Turner had used a weapon and had hit perhaps the most vulnerable part of his victim's body.

She went on: "The injury required seven stitches. You must be very grateful that the long term difficulties of the injury were no worse than they were.

"The offence was premeditated. You went to work on a day you were not meant to be there."

Turner, of Coleridge Close, Colne, had earlier admitted unlawful wounding.

Charles Brown, prosecuting, told the court some blades had gone missing from the company. The management received information which made them believe Turner might be responsible for the "mislocation" of the blades.

The defendant believed Mr Shuttleworth was responsible for that information. The victim was working when Turner went into the workshop carrying a baseball bat and struck him, knocking him to the ground and calling him a "grass".

Robert Crawford, defending, said it appeared Mr Shuttleworth was responsible for spreading false rumours and Turner went to the factory on a Sunday morning and struck him a single blow.

However, he said the complainant did not bear the defendant any substantial ill-will and felt Turner had been "wound up."

Mr Crawford said the matter was serious and the court could be considering custody. Turner was usually a hard-working, decent, family man who kept himself to himself and had been very upset by what had been said about him.

He went on: "If the court passes a non-custodial sentence, the defendant would be in a position to pay compensation. He has worked many years, made a substantial contribution to society.

"He has made a considerable number of credits but this is a big debit, I accept that."

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