A DELIVERY driver who flew off the handle and punched a construction site manager who called him a moron has been fined after admitting assault.

In the course of his employment Josef Gardy had travelled down from Yorkshire to deliver goods to a construction site in Colchester on October 1.

Just after arriving at around 3.10pm, Gardy got into difficulty navigating his vehicle in via the narrow layout of the route in to the site.

After overhearing the other workers discussing what was going on, the site manager left his nearby office to try to assist.

Gardy was eventually told to leave the site by the victim, who had run out of patience, Colchester magistrates were told.

But instead he swore at the site manager, who quickly snapped back, labelling him a “moron”.

Incensed, the 33-year-old got out of his vehicle and punched the victim, making contact with both sides of his face.

The site manager was left with some bruising to his face.

At Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday Gardy admitted one charge of assault by beating.

Several witnesses, other workers on the construction site, were present at the time of the incident.

Louise Maples, prosecuting, told the court Gardy had four previous convictions for four offences, including for an assault against a police officer in 2012.

She said: “When interviewed by police he confirmed the location of the site and said he did not know the man involved.”

Levent Kemal, mitigating, said Gardy did not dispute the assault took place but gave a slightly different version of events.

He said: “He was having difficulty entering the site and he says he feels he was bullied and abused by the site manager.

“He takes full responsibility for the assault, however, and this is not an excuse.

“This is an isolated incident and he is remorseful for his actions.”

Gardy, of James Street, Barnsley, lost his job as a result of the incident and is in the process of moving to Scotland to take up different employment.

Magistrates ordered him to pay a fine of £410, costs of £105, a victim surcharge of £41 and £100 in compensation to the victim.

The total he must pay is £656.