A MAN who hit a workmate in the face with a metal-cutting tool on a Coventry building site has been jailed after a judge heard about his violent past.
Christopher Birch had denied wounding his victim Alan Robertson with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.
But on the day of his trial at Warwick Crown Court he pleaded guilty to an alternative offence of maliciously wounding him during the incident in April last year.
And following an adjournment for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on him Birch (47) of Otterbrook Court, Radford, Coventry, was jailed for 21 months.
Prosecutor Edmund Blackman said the incident took place following a row between the two men on a Coventry building site where they were both working at the time.
Birch went to a vehicle and took out a metal nipper tool, then walked up to Mr Robertson and hit him in the face, splitting his lip and injuring his nose.
Mr Blackman added that Birch had previous convictions for violence, including a wounding when he had hit someone in the face with a glass.
And after this incident Coventry magistrates fined him for causing criminal damage after he lost his temper in a city bookies and damaged a door.
Ian Windridge, defending, said: “He is generally an honest, hard-working member of society.
“He didn’t admit what he had done when he should have, but he has done so now.
“In a moment of madness he got involved in a confrontation with one of his work colleagues, but this is not a man without redeeming qualities.”
Jailing Birch, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC told him: “There is a pattern of violent and intimidating behaviour by you.
“On this occasion you had an argument and you were angry. You did intend to leave the site, but you picked up an item and, in a moment of madness as you confronted him, you took that weapon and struck him twice to the face.
“There was some premeditation. You went to your vehicle and you picked up that weapon and you walked across to him. You have taken up a weapon and deliberately assaulted someone with it.”
