A MAN broke his ankle after he got into a fight with his colleague at their workplace in Glasgow’s East End.

The injury which was caused by the fight was so severe that he had to have it operated on for a metal plate to be fitted.

John Paul McCormick, 36, was in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court to be sentenced for the attack.

He plead guilty to assaulting his workmate by repeatedly punching him on the head and body. The charge also stated that he stood on his foot, spun him and caused him to fall to the ground all to his severe injury.

The attack happened at the Blochairn Fruit Market on Christmas Eve in 2013.

The Procurator Fiscal depute said that McCormick and his victim were both employed as HGV drivers.

They were both unloading cargo from their lorries and became involved in an argument over working practice.

This argument escalated and the pair started grabbing each other.

The court heard that McCormick, who is significantly larger, managed to overpower his victim. He stood on his foot and spun him round which caused him to fall to the ground where he was screaming in pain.

Another witness provided a statement to say the victim initially had been aggressive towards McCormick.

The court also heard McCormick made attempts to check on his victim’s well-being before leaving the site.

His victim was taken to Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary to be treated for a broken ankle.

The court also heard the victim, who was self-employed, was unable to work during recovery.

McCormick defence agent said that his client had been putting money away to deal with the consequences of a sentence. The court heard McCormick’s family did not have a holiday and a car was sold.

He added: “Mr McCormick fully understands the gravity of the offence.”

Sentencing sheriff Cameron fined McCormick, of Wyres Court Road, West Derby, Liverpool, £1350 and ordered him to pay his victim £3650.