UPSET and unhappiness among kitchen staff at a top Harrogate hotel led to an unprovoked attack, a court heard yesterday.

Defence solicitor Andrew Tinning said trouble at the 121-bedroom, three-star Crown Hotel had begun after a head chef was appointed.

Mr Tinning said: "There was disharmony among staff at the hotel. He did not get on with the staff and a number of them left.''

One of those who quit was sous chef Nicholas Jarrett who found himself a job in telesales and went to live with his girlfriend's parents in Knaresborough.

But after a drinking session on June 7, Jarrett, 20, whose family home is in Ludlow in the West Midlands, paid an early morning visit to the Crown Hotel.

Prosecutor Caroline Midgley said Jarrett took the lift to the staff quarters and kicked open the door of the room where employee Mark Powell was sleeping.

He punched him in the face, dragged him from his bed and into the corridor where he again punched him in the head and face.

Then Jarrett kicked in the door of Jessica Bowers' room, another member of staff, demanding to see the head chef.

And, as he was leaving, he smashed two panes of glass in the revolving front door of the hotel.

Mr Tinning said Jarrett could provide no reason for the incident, other than drink.

Jarrett was conditionally discharged for a year and told to pay costs of £70 along with compensation of £125 to Mr Powell and £500 to the hotel for damages after pleading guilty to assault and criminal damage.