BOLTON at Home bosses are to reopen disciplinary action against an employee convicted of racially aggravated common assault.

Last week, Steven Egerton, aged 35, was sentenced to 200 hours community punishment and was ordered to pay £400 compensation after he pleaded guilty to assaulting an Asian man during a road rage incident and making a racist comment.

Bolton at Home bosses said that "additional evidence" had been uncovered during the court case and that disciplinary action would be re-opened to consider the issues.

The court heard the assault took place after Egerton, of Rostherne Gardens, Bolton, drove his grey van out of Melbourne Road into Willows Lane, causing medical student Mohammed Atcha to brake sharply.

Mr Atcha sounded his horn and Egerton made an obscene gesture.

Egerton then followed Mr Atcha and when the two cars were stopped in traffic, he grabbed hold of Mr Atcha's clothes and tried to pull him through his open car window, hitting his face in the process and making a racist comment.

Bolton Crown Court was told that Egerton, who already had previous convictions for assault, had been disciplined by employers Bolton at Home and had been sent on an anger management course, but had been allowed to keep his job.

The court heard that if Egerton lost his job he would also lose his home as it was provided by his employers.

A Bolton at Home spokesman said Egerton had been suspended from his job, pending the outcome of the court case.

He said: "Bolton at Home will not tolerate aggressive or racist behaviour from staff. All staff employed by Bolton at Home must adhere to the staff code of conduct which addresses issues such as violence and racist behaviour."