Colin Robert Dockery in Rockhampton court for assaulting co-worker

A father of three who did not like the feedback a colleague was giving him about his work ethic and how he handled instructions in the workplace turned on the man.

Colin Robert Dockery in Rockhampton court for assaulting co-worker

A father of three did not like the feedback a colleague was giving him about his work ethic and how he handled instructions in the workplace, so he assaulted him.

Colin Robert Dockery, 40, had worked at Bradnam’s Window and Doors in Kawana for about a year when he and a colleague had a conversation early one morning, Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard.

Police prosecutor Mirren Smith said Dockery and the victim were at work at 6am on March 12 when the victim initiated the conversation about his work ethic and “failing to follow supervisor instructions”.

“This discussion became heated and the defendant began obstructing the exit door, preventing the victim from leaving the room after he asked several times to leave,” she said.

“This made the victim feel threatened by the defendant and the defendant eventually left the room.”

Ms Smith said Dockery soon returned to the victim’s office and while the victim was seated at his desk, Dockery “rushed at the victim” and punched him in the shoulder, knocking him off the chair.

She said the victim fell off, face down, and Dockery jumped on top of him, continuing his assault, as the victim had his foot trapped underneath the desk.

Magistrate Cameron Press said the victim’s trapped foot meant he was unable to retreat from Dockery’s attack.

Ms Smith said Dockery grabbed the victim by the back of his neck, causing the victim to struggle to breath and become light-headed.

She said the defendant then punched the victim’s head multiple times, hitting him in the eyes, ears and mouth.

Mr Press said the attack only stopped when another employee intervened and held Dockery back.

Defence lawyer Pierre Lammersdorf said his client, a father of three, had worked in labouring and had tickets to operate forklifts and a truck licence.

He said Dockery had worked at Bradnam’s for about a year prior to this incident and had worked driving a concrete truck for the past seven months.

Dockery pleaded guilty October 10 to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm and was sentenced to nine months prison, wholly suspended with an operational period of 18 months.

Originally published as Colin Robert Dockery in Rockhampton court for assaulting co-worker