A former employee at the Coniston Hotel threw a cup of coffee over a manager during a meeting with senior staff, Skipton magistrates heard.

Simon Taylor, 34, employed to work in the bar, had requested a meeting with his manager after his contract had been terminated, the court heard.

But when he had turned up for the meeting on July 22, there had been more senior staff than he had expected.

Taylor, who the court heard had become agitated, un-cooperative and aggressive, eventually walked out of the meeting after first throwing a half full cup of coffee over bar and restaurant manager, Paul West.

Taylor, who originally denied the assault by beating of Mr West, changed his plea to guilty ahead of a planned trial.

In mitigation, Alan Petherbridge said Taylor, of High Street, Steeton, said there was an alternative slant to the meeting.

He said Taylor had been given a contract of employment, but it had become apparent that he had been expected to work longer hours than he had been contracted to do.

He said he had called for a meeting, but had not expected it to include the hotel’s general manager and human resources manager. As a result, Taylor had felt out manoeuvred, said Mr Petherbridge.

He had thrown what was only a small, half drunk cup of espresso coffee.

Taylor was fined £140 and ordered to pay costs of £150 and a victims surcharge of £20. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £30 to Mr West.