A DAIRY worker punched his boss after being told twice to stop using his phone, heard Skipton Magistrates Court.

Jack Dyminski 25, punched Mark Taft, his line manager at Dales Dairies in Grassington, once in the face causing an eye injury that needed gluing, the court heard on Friday.

Dyminski had a high functioning form of autism affecting his social skills of which he had not informed his employers the court was told.

On December 4 he had already been told once by Mr Taft to stop using his phone while he was supposed to be watching over machinery and later the same day, had to be told again.

Prosecuting, Nadine Clough, said Dyminski became aggressive, accused Mr Taft of singling him out, claiming that he had done nothing wrong and telling him he was a ‘loser’ and needed to ‘get a life’.

Mr Taft tried to defuse the situation, and took him into an office, where Dyminski squared up to him and ‘hurled abuse’ said Ms Clough.

Mr Taft told Dyminski to leave the premises and that he would speak to him later, putting out his arm , indicating for him to leave, and before he could do anything, Dyminski had punched him once in the face and again to the back of his head, said Ms Clough.

“It was a wide swipe, with clenched fist and it caught him completely off guard. The force caused hin to rotate 180 degrees and when he was falling to the floor, he felt the second punch to the bac k of his head,” said Ms Clough.

Mr Taft was treated at Burnley General Hospital for a cut and bruising and the injury to his eye needed gluing.

In a victim personal statement, Mr Taft said he suffered severe pain and discomfort, had trouble sleeping afterwards and felt anxious at work. He also believed he would be left with a permanent scar over his eye.

Dyminski, who admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, felt threatened by Mr Taft and so assaulted him, the court was told.

In mitigation, Siobhan White, said the form of autism Dyminski suffered from meant he could feel overwhelmed by certain behaviour and could react impulsively.

She understood his employers were not aware of his autism, and that he was working to address his tolerance skills.

Dyminski, of The Fairways, Low Utley, Keighley, was fined £230 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £34. He will also have to pay compensation of £500 to Mr Taft.