GAZETTE & HERALD: Hairdresser Gary Hatto pleaded guilty to assault when he appeared before Chippenham magistrates last Thursday.

The 39-year-old, who owns four salons in north Wiltshire, punched a decorator in the face after claiming he spilt paint on the outside wall of his house.

Prosecutor Michelle Hewitt said: "This was an unprovoked assault, instigated by the defendant."

Albert Rogers, who was described by Mrs Hewitt as being in his twenties, was working on Hatto's next-door neighbour's house when the attack occurred.

He was cutting wood on the driveway just before 3pm on Monday April 11, when Hatto, of Aintree Drive, Chippenham returned from work.

Mrs Hewitt said: "Mr Rogers was approached by the defendant who immediately became aggressive."

Hatto claimed Mr Rogers had got paint on the side of his garage, but the workman insisted he had not been painting.

"The defendant was swearing and pointed to the side of the house, all of a sudden Mr Rogers sustained a blow to the chin and felt dizzy and fell back," Mrs Hewitt said.

She said the defendant continued to call him a string of obscenities and went to hit him again but Mr Rogers put his hand up to his face to protect himself.

Michael Wills, defending, told magistrates Hatto had given permission for someone to paint alongside his garage, as long as he was at home.

But when he returned from work white paint had been splashed all over his wall so he became angry.

Mr Wills said: "Mr Rogers had a saw in his left hand and a Stanley knife in his right hand.

"He became very aggressive and lifted up the saw and tried to strike Mr Hatto in the neck."

He added: "It wasn't unprovoked. He was very, very angry and Mr Rogers was coming at him with a saw."

Chairman of the magistrates, David Randolph said: "This is not a satisfactory way to settle a dispute like paint on a wall, or indeed to settle any argument."

Hatto was ordered to pay a £400 fine, £43 court costs and £75 compensation to Mr Rogers.

Hatto, who has gents' hairdressing salons in Devizes, Chippenham, Marlborough and Melksham, started building up his chain of shops when he was 21.

In 2002, he was voted Employer of the Year in the first People of Wiltshire Awards, organised by Wiltshire County Council, after being nominated by his own staff for his remarkable incentive scheme.

He was praised for the respect and support he showed his employees.

Members of staff got free trips to New York, free holidays and are even able to take the boss's sports car for a spin.

He was reputedly the first barber shop proprietor in Britain to introduce computer games cnsoles for his customers to use as they wait for their turn in the chair.