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A man who packed stress balls for a living punched his boss in the face and threatened colleagues when he was sacked, a court heard.

Darren Baldwin, 44, hit the warehouse manager who dismissed him and then produced two knives when other staff tried to step in.

Blackpool magistrates yesterday heard: “His victim was in fear of his life. He shouted threats like: ‘I will cut you up’.”

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said that when novelty firm SPS said Baldwin was losing his temporary job, the manager who passed on the bad news was punched in the face.

She said: “Four or five other staff arrived on the scene where the victim Philip Dilworth had been the victim on an unprovoked attack.

“Baldwin then produced two knives and Mr Dilworth was in fear of his life.

“Baldwin showed the knives to his colleague worker and started to shout threats like ‘I will cut you up’.”

The court heard that Baldwin, from Blackpool, left the trading estate where the company was based and was later arrested.

Baldwin, of Blackpool, admitted affray and assault and was bailed for pre-sentence reports.

The company in Blackpool sells novelty products including stress balls.