THE owner of a Wiltshire barbershop chain punched a builder who he claimed splashed paint on his garage wall.

Gary Hatto, 39, who owns men's hairdressing salons in Melksham, Chippenham, Devizes and Marlborough pleaded guilty to common assault on Thursday.

Michele Hewitt, prosecuting at Chippenham magistrates' court, said Hatto launched an unprovoked attack on workman Albert Rogers, punching him in the face.

Mr Rogers was working on a driveway next door to Hatto's house in Aintree Drive, Cepen Park South, Chippenham, shortly before 3pm on April 11, when he heard a man swearing at him. He looked up and saw Hatto standing over him.

Mrs Hewitt said: "Albert Rogers said he was completely taken aback by his aggressive approach and asked the defendant what he was going on about."

Hatto accused Mr Rogers of splashing paint on the side of his garage, and continued swearing and pointing towards his house.

All of a sudden Hatto punched Mr Rogers on the left side of his face, causing it to swell up.

The workman felt dizzy and stumbled backwards but stayed on his feet. Mr Rogers told his attacker he had not been doing any painting but Hatto went in for another blow.

Mr Rogers managed to defend himself by covering his face with his hand.

Mrs Hewitt said Mr Rogers was holding a saw at the time and Hatto cut his arm on it. When Hatto told him to put the saw down Mr Rogers refused because he wanted to protect himself.

Michael Hills, defending, said Hatto agreed he hit Mr Rogers but did not accept it was an unprovoked attack.

He said Hatto had become cross when he saw paint splashed down his wall but claimed Mr Rogers had also become very aggressive.

He said Mr Rogers was holding both a Stanley knife and a saw, which he raised above his head and tried to use to strike Hatto, leaving marks on his arm.

Magistrate David Randolph said: "We have to tell you that this is not a satisfactory way to settle an argument or dispute over something like paint on a wall.

"Indeed it is not a satisfactory way to settle any argument."

Hatto, who wore a pinstripe suit and tie to court and was accompanied by his girlfriend, was fined £400, ordered to pay £75 compensation to Mr Rogers and £43 costs.

Mr Randolph said: "We believe there was a certain element of provocation and a certain amount of six of one and half a dozen of the other."