A COURT has heard how strong feelings among firefighters over their strike turned to violence.

Firefighter Barry Saddler, who worked at Erith fire station, snapped when he could no longer stand the pressure on him over his anti-strike views, and attacked his shop steward with a metal bar.

Croydon Crown Court was told there had been a lot of bad feeling at the fire station in Erith Road, Belvedere, because Saddler, aged 38, of Platt Common, Kent, refused to join the picket line. Martin Kenny, prosecuting, said the attack took place on November 30 last year when the watch had returned to work after their latest strike.

Shop steward Michael Horne was kneeling on the floor checking the tyres of one of the fire appliances, which was one of his normal duties.

Saddler came up behind him with a three-foot-long metal fire hydrant bar and hit Mr Horne three times, fracturing his skull. Mr Kenny said: “He fell to the floor. He was on his back when he saw Saddler standing over him.” Saddler, obviously distraught, then left the station and went to Bexley fire station in Erith Road, Barnehurst, where he told an assistant divisional officer what he had done.

Mr Kenny added Saddler was crying and distressed and had said: “I wanted to kill him. He has been riling me for months.” On Saddler’s behalf, Paul Williams told the court it was well known Saddler did not support the strikes. He did not cross the picket lines, but he did not take part in them either and was noted by his work colleagues, as he was the only firefighter missing.

Mr Williams said: “It was a pity no-one asked him why.” He said Saddler had a family crisis over his mother-in-law’s illness, which he decided had to be his first priority.

He said there had been several incidents leading up to the attack on Mr Horne. The two had clashed when Saddler, the unit’s driver, had removed the Fire Brigades’ Union flag because he said it blocked his view.

And on the day of the attack, a fire appliance being driven in the station swerved towards him.

Mr Williams said: “Mr Saddler went into the locker room and was thinking about going home. He was certain he couldn’t take any more.” Then he went out and attacked Mr Horne.

Saddler pleaded guilty to wounding and was sentenced to 10 months in jail.

Sentencing him, Judge Simon Pratt said he had read glowing references about Saddler’s good deeds over the years.

Describing it as “a very sad case” the judge said: “There will be differing views over the strikes and there was a background of dissatisfaction over your absence from the picket lines, and a bad atmosphere at the fire station.

“But, however it may explain the very high emotions, it cannot in any way justify the use of a hydrant bar.”