AN OUTBURST of temper proved costly for a man who escaped custody by the skin of his teeth . Stewart Duncan caused an injury to another man s head during an incident. At Luton Crown Court on Tuesday he was given a three-month prison sentence suspended fo

AN OUTBURST of temper proved costly for a man who escaped custody "by the skin of his teeth".

Stewart Duncan caused an injury to another man's head during an incident.

At Luton Crown Court on Tuesday he was given a three-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, put on supervision for 12 months, ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work and pay a total of £1,250 in compensation, costs and a fine.

Duncan, 36, of Lincoln Road, Stevenage, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

Laura Blackband, prosecuting, said the victim, Lee Arthur, was working on the roof of a house in Ripon Road, Stevenage, on June 10, 2005, when Duncan came by and shook the scaffolding.

It was Mr Arthur's colleague that Duncan had a grievance with and there was an altercation in which Duncan headbutted him and left.

But he returned about 15 minutes later and was shouting and angry. Mr Arthur told him to go away and fetched a baseball bat from the house to persuade him to leave.

"But they wrestled over the bat and Mr Arthur was pushed against a wall cutting his head. He has been left with a scar under his hairline," said Ms Blackband.

Jacques Howell, defending, said: "The situation was inflamed when the baseball bat was produced. It was like showing a red rag to a bull."

He said Duncan had cut down his drinking which had reduced the number of temper outbursts that have led in the past to police being called out 14 times.

Judge John Bevan QC told Duncan: "You really must learn to control your temper. But I am just able to deal with you without sending you immediately into custody but it has been by the skin of your teeth.