A Honda business manager flew into a rage and butted his colleague in a row over the scale of customer discounts.
Christopher Dolan damaged salesman Graham Mitchell’s nose in the garage showroom after a bust-up involving a number of staff members.
A court was told that Dolan had been suspended and subsequently resigned from his post with the Honda dealership on Dunkeld Road, Perth.
Perth Sheriff Court was told that he was now working as a car salesman, earning around £10,000 a year less than he had been as part of the Honda management team.
Father-of-two Dolan, 33, of Tayview Drive, Liff, by Dundee, admitted assaulting Mr Mtchell by butting him to his injury in the Honda garage on December 20.
Depute fiscal Rebecca Kynaston told the court: “Mr Mitchell is employed as a sales executive. The accused was also employed at the garage as a business manager.
“At 10am Mr Mitchell was at work, standing in the showroom floor with colleagues. They were discussing customer discounts and the accused, who was sitting at his desk a short distance away, joined in the conversation.
“Soon an argument ensued between Mr Mitchell and the accused, and Mr Mitchell said something along the lines of ‘maybe he should keep his nose out of it’.
“The accused said ‘I’ve had enough of this’ and got up from his chair and walked towards Mr Mitchell.
“Without warning, he headbutted him once on the face. Mr Mitchell did not retaliate but informed his supervisor.
“He went to the bathroom as his nose was bleeding. He had swelling and bruising under his eye.”
Solicitor Graham Harding, defending, said: “He has expressed genuine remorse for his actions.
“There had been tensions between Mr Dolan and the complainer over a period of time, but he fully accepts that does not in any way justify the way he acted that day.
“Mr Dolan was initially suspended and tendered his resignation a few days later.
“He has contacted the complainer by text to express his sincere apologies.
“That looked like it had brought the matter to an end, but Mr Dolan was able to get another job a few weeks later, and it was the fact he got another job that prompted the complainer to take matters further.”
Mr Harding told the court Dolan had raised thousands of pounds for charity and had two children under the age of two.
Sheriff Michael Fletcher fined him £500.