A FLIRTATIOUS text message to a woman from a work colleague ended in violence when her boyfriend flew into a jealous rage.

Lorry driver Peter Barnes saw red when his girlfriend received the greeting: "Morning Princess, missing you madly" on her mobile.

Barnes, suspecting an affair, told her: "On Monday, I'm jacking in my job. It will come to a violent end."

That morning he stormed off to her work place at Solent Industrial Estate, Hedge End, a court heard. Grabbing a children's baseball bat, he confronted Mark Cook and struck him about the head and chest.

"It was a violent and sustained attack witnessed by a number of people," said prosecutor Richard Willcox at Southampton Crown Court.

One witness described Barnes gripping the weapon tightly in his right hand and swinging it with considerable effort up and down on his victim who edged back, shouting: "No, leave it!"

The assailant's face was contorted in pure anger and when a colleague tried to intervene, Barnes shouted: "Back off, pal!"

Mr Cook was left covered in blood from a head wound and also suffered bruising to the ribs from the three or four blows inflicted.

Barnes, 40, of Manor Road, Durley, pleaded guilty to affray.

His partner - who was not named in court - sat in the public gallery at Southampton Crown Court as defence lawyer David Jenkins said the couple's relationship was now back on an even keel.

Barnes, he said, was regarded as a placid, easy-going man who did not lose his temper easily.

Judge David Griffiths remarked: "And then he blows."

Mr Jenkins said Barnes was furious when he discovered the text message and rang Mr Cook, who denied having anything to do with it. Initially he planned to talk with him but things welled up inside him.

Barnes was given a 12-month community rehabilitation order and told to carry out 100 hours' community work, as well as attend an anger management course.

The court heard that Mr Cook had declined to make a complaint about the incident and refused to support a court case. He regarded it as a one-off incident and did not fear any further trouble.