A MAN attacked a former colleague as he walked home, kicking him in the head and telling him, "I've been waiting for this."

Victim Michael Pagett, who owns the Reef Bar in Wigan, was left with a black eye and a fractured left shoulder following the attack by 22-year-old Ryan Spencer.

At Bolton Crown Court Spencer, of Crown Lane, Horwich, was spared jail after Judge Timothy Stead was told, in pre-sentence reports, of his "difficulties" .

Instead of immediate jail Spencer, who pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for a year. He was also made subject to a 12 month intensive community order which includes 100 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation activities.

Judge Stead told Spencer, who has no previous convictions: "This must not happen again. If it does, you will be the one who suffers the most."

Duncan Wilcock, prosecuting, told the court how Spencer and 28-year-old Mr Pagett both worked at the Jumpin Jaks club, the victim as a DJ and Spencer as a barman.

Three years ago Mr Pagett bought The Reef Bar but Spencer was barred from the premises over issues about his behaviour.

Spencer then began to shout abuse at Mr Pagett whenever he saw him.

On September 2 last year Mr Pagett left work, had a few drinks and started walking home at 4.40am.

On Darlington Street East he heard someone shouting his name.

"He turned around and saw the defendant," said Mr Wilcock.

"He heard the defendant say 'I've been waiting for this'.

"Mr Pagett says he had an idea he was going to do something to harm him so he began to walk fast."

But Spencer ran up to him and punched him in the left eye.

"The force of the blow was such that he was knocked back onto the floor," said Mr Wilcock.

Mr Pagett was knocked unconscious and witnesses saw Spencer kicking him in the head.

In hospital he was also found to have a small fracture to his shoulder.

Brian McKenna, defending, said there had been "something of a history" between Spencer and his victim.

"Rightly or wrongly the defendant does seem to have perceived grievance," he said.

As well as passing sentence, Judge Stead made a restraining order for three years banning Spencer from contacting Mr Pagett or going to the Reef Bar.