A boxer who lost his temper and floored his boss in a dispute over wages has been spared a jail sentence.

But a judge delivered a knockout blow to Danny Looker by ordering him to pay his victim £1,800 compensation.

The muscular 28-year-old was working as a scaffolder for a construction company when he complained to contract director Lee Butler about a drop in wages.

Looker went to the office at Hadley Scaffolding on Medway City Estate in Strood on March 18 last year and put his index finger on the victim’s chin.

“He is much smaller in build,” prosecutor Antony Hook told Maidstone Crown Court. “He then punched him to the face, knocking him over. It was a very hard punch.

“He was lying on the floor as he continued to receive punches. He was punched a great many times. The defendant left saying he would be back and he wanted the money sorted. There was no provocation whatsoever. Others came in and saw the aftermath.

“Mr Butler had nasty cuts to his head and face. He has been left with a slight permanent scar below his left eye.”

The victim was off work for two weeks and had double vision which prevented him from driving. “He was very upset, to say the least,” added Mr Hook.

Looker admitted assault causing actual bodily harm shortly before he was due to stand trial on Wednesday.

Matthew Bolt, defending, said Looker, who has previous convictions for racially aggravated common assault in 2009 and possessing cocaine in 2012, had not been looking for a confrontation.

Suspending 16 months imprisonment for two years, Judge Adele Williams said: “This was wholly unacceptable violence. You felt aggrieved and took it out on your victim.

“You say you are a boxer. You undoubtedly used your skills as a boxer to inflict the maximum amount of injury by punches to the victim’s head and face. You couldn’t complain if I sent you to prison. Consider yourself fortunate.”

Looker, of Orchard Road, Romney Marsh, will also be under a curfew for four months from 9pm to 4am. He was banned from contacting the victim.