Jailed: Shropshire lorry driver broke colleague's skull with bottle of wine
A lorry driver who left a colleague with bone fragments in his brain after "raining punches on him" and throwing a bottle of wine at his head has been jailed for 29 months.
Victim Christopher Holloway had to be airlifted to a trauma centre after the attack at a depot in Nesscliffe and was placed in a medically induced coma while he recovered, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.
Brian McLaren, 45, of Greenfields, Hixon, near Stafford, completely lost control, Judge Anthony Lowe said.
He said that McLaren, who admitted a charge of wounding, would have to serve half of the 29 month sentence before being released on licence.
Mr Rob Edwards, prosecuting, said that the two men had worked as drivers at MJ Refrigeration at Nesscliffe.
On September 30 last year Mr Holloway was due to take out a lorry from the depot but when he arrived it was still being used by McLaren.
"He told McLaren to 'crack on' and the defendant took offence," Mr Edwards said.
"He went over to Mr Holloway's car and punched him in the face and chest multiple times.
"Mr Holloway managed to get out of the car fell to the floor and grabbed one of McLaren's legs.
"He kept raining punches on him and Mr Holloway said that he felt as if his head was being hit against a wall and was seeing stars."
Wine bottle throw
The victim went into the office to complain, then as he was driving home, wound his window down as he drove past the lorry and pointed to McLaren.
At that point, Mr Edwards, said, McLaren threw a bottle of wine at the car which hit Mr Holloway on the side of his head, smashing it.
"Mr Holloway drove on to his uncle's house but while phoning the police he began to slur his words and then had a fit.
"His uncle spoke to emergency services and cared for him until the ambulance arrived."
Mr Holloway was so ill that an air ambulance transferred him to the major trauma centre in Stoke where he had to have bone fragments taken out of his brain and had to be placed in a coma to recover from the skull fracture.
He was now not allowed to drive lorries for at least five years, Mr Edwards said.
The judge was told that McLaren's behaviour was completely out of character and followed disparaging comments made to him. McLaren had lost his job, the judge heard.
He told McLaren: "The bottle was thrown in anger and the consequence may have been unintended but it led to a serious fracture of Mr Holloway's skull."
"You completely lost control of your anger."
