A GARAGE worker who attacked his boss with a spanner while in a “total rage” has been jailed.

Nathan Crane, of 66 Bryncastell in Bow Street, pleaded guilty to assaulting Michael John Hughes on 7 April, as well as charges of damaging items at Mr Hughes’ garage and possession of an offensive weapon, after he reacted angrily to claims he had been moonlighting and turned up brandishing a spanner.

Crane, 31, had initially denied the offences, but changed his pleas.

Magistrates heard the offences meant he had breached a suspended prison sentence after he was convicted of assault and two separate charges of assault by threats when he lost his temper in an Aberystwyth restaurant and bar in April last year.

Prosecutor Helen Tench heard that Mr Hughes was grabbed and held down by Crane while he brandished the spanner after he had heard that he was set to lose his job for moonlighting at the garage after hours.

Mr Hughes was hit on the leg as Crane waved the spanner around and, after Mr Hughes’ colleagues pulled Crane away, he smashed a number of items, including a TV screen, monitors, a wall socket and the window of a recovery truck.

Ms Tench said: “He was described as being in a total rage. He grabbed Mr Hughes and pinned him down, waving the spanner towards his head.”

Defence solicitor Colin Taylor said Crane “emphatically denied” he had been moonlighting and had gone to confront Mr Hughes while “in somewhat of a temper”.

Crane, who appeared in court via videolink from Swansea Prison, was given a 16-week sentence for possession of an offensive weapon while on a suspended sentence. He was also given eight weeks for damaging property and 16 weeks for assault, with the sentences to run concurrently.

However, magistrates activated the suspended sentence, reducing the term to 12 weeks to run consecutively with the sentences from the recent offences, meaning he will serve a total of 28 weeks.

Crane will also pay £200 compensation to Mr Hughes, as well as costs of £165.

He was also made the subject to a two-year restraining order to keep away from Mr Hughes and the garage.