A MAN who attacked a takeaway boss after blaming him for his partner getting the sack has narrowly avoided being locked up.

David Lowes was said to have taken the law into his own hands as he and his girlfriend held a grudge against Muhammad Saeed Ahkter.

A judge on Friday described as “an ugly encounter” the public dust-up in the street in Ferryhill, County Durham, last October.

Lowes, 37, and 35-year-old partner Joanne Wigham followed Mr Ahktar’s car when they saw him and approached him when he parked up.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Lowes smashed the driver’s side window with his elbow and repeatedly punched his victim.

When Mr Ahktar got out of his vehicle, he was thumped in the face again by the shop-worker, said prosecutor Paul Newcombe.

Judge Simon Phillips, QC, imposed a six-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours’ unpaid community work.

Lowes, who admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage, was also ordered to pay £500 compensation.

The judge told him: “You lost your temper having taken it upon yourself to follow Mr Ahktar’s vehicle a short distance.

“In the cold light of day you will recognise that was the wrong way to go about the matter and it was courting problems.

“If you had a problem at the time, and indeed, if you have a problem in the future, there are ways of addressing them properly.

“It was apparent that you were concerned to ensure the safety and welfare of your partner. You let yourself down and her down.”

Lowes and Wigham, of Fairwood Terrace, Ferryhill, were cleared of affray and and racially-aggravated assault at a trial.

During his evidence, Lowes told the jury of seven women and five men that he had never racially abused the pizza shop boss as had been claimed.

He told the court the complainant had sworn and made threats, and an offensive gesture, and the other man was being aggressive as they struggled.

His barrister, Chris Baker, said Lowes - who resigned from his job at Siciliano’s after his partner was sacked - had not been in trouble for 13 years.

Mr Baker said: “This is an isolated incident. He is in employment and he is in a Stanley relationship with his partner. He is a carer for her mother.”

The court heard how locals - two of whom had provided references for Lowes - described him as hard-working and respectablemember of the community.