A UNION representative at Roberts Bakery, in Rudheath, attacked a supervisor after losing his temper over a last minute change to a job.

There had been a history of trouble between James Joe McGuigan - the TWGU representative for the company's drivers - and David Savage, who had been a management supervisor for three months.

McGuigan, 42, of Hesketh Drive, Lostock Gralam, admitted kicking and punching Mr Savage, knocking him unconscious and causing him actual bodily harm, when he appeared at Northwich Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Mr Savage suffered concussion, a 'cauliflower' ear and bruising to his back and thigh.

Catherine Whinchup, prosecuting, said on December 9, Mr Savage had returned to the bakery after a business trip.

He saw McGuigan having a dispute with another member of staff and invited him into the office where an argument broke out.

McGuigan was complaining that he had been due to drive Scotland and had arrived to find plans had been changed at the last minute.

He wanted to know how his pay was going to be affected.

McGuigan said to Mr Savage: "I'm going to batter you and you are going through that window."

Mr Savage told him to go home and McGuigan left.

But as both men went to their cars, Mr Savage was confronted by McGuigan.

Miss Whinchup said: "He punched him and he fell to the floor unconscious. He tried to get up and was punched repeatedly."

The hearing also established that the victim had been kicked while he was standing up.

David Thomas, defending, said there had been ongoing problems between the two.

Mr Thomas said: "As the union rep he had been negotiating for the drivers and he felt Mr Savage wasn't taking him seriously. He was becoming frustrated.

"He was expecting to drive to Scotland but was told he was going to be doing something else instead. He wanted to know how much he was going to be paid."

Magistrates gave McGuigan a 150-hour community punishment order and ordered him to pay £300 compensation to Mr Savage and £120 court costs.