A RECYCLING plant worker who shoved a colleague into the clutches of a grabbing machine has been spared jail.

Daniel Buckle was told the workplace horseplay was 'staggeringly stupid' but after a court heard how sorry he was for his actions he was put on a suspended sentence.

The 25-year-old was working at MJ Church's plant in Allington when the prank went wrong on Tuesday November 3 last year.

Caroline Flint, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how his workmate was left with a badly fractured leg and broken wrist.

At about 3pm in the afternoon she said Cameron Younger was on the ground near a five-and-a-half ton 'duck machine', which is a like a digger with a grabber attachment.

She said Buckle normally operated the plant but was on a short break while 19-year-old colleague Lewis Toop took over on the controls.

The defendant suggested to Mr Younger he allow Mr Toop to pick him up in the grabber and spin him around, she said, but the victim was not interested.

"Mr Buckle shouted 'Spin Cameron around in the grab'. Mr Toop then operated the grab and manoeuvred it so Mr Younger was in the circle of the grab," she said.

"Mr Younger was trying to get away but Mr Buckle kept pushing him and kept him in there."

The two pronged grab then closed on his leg twice leaving him with an open fracture to his left thigh bone and a broken wrist.

As a result of the injury Mr Younger was hospitalised for 13 days and was on crutches for two months.

As well as the leg injury he said that he was also struggling to grip things properly because of the damage to his arm.

Buckle, of Broomfield, Chippenham, admitted grievous bodily harm.

Andrew Stone, defending, said his client lost his job as a result of the incident and had now started an apprenticeship at a new firm.

He said he was very sorry for what he had done and is a family man living with his partner and children.

Passing sentence Judge Robert Pawson said "There had been some horseplay where employees would be put in the grabber and moved around.

"That is a staggeringly stupid thing to do. It is almost unbelievable that people wouldn't think there is a risk in that.

"You tried to encourage Mr Younger to consent to get inside the grabber, or to allow himself to be in the grabber.

"Mr Younger was predictably not that keen. You pushed him in to the grabber, the grabber closed on him. He was screaming in pain.

"Looking at the sentencing guidelines, I don't suppose the authors envisaged a group of men being quite so stupid. You could have killed someone, in which case you would have been going to prison for years."

Imposing a 15 month jail term suspended for two years he added "From time to time Mr Buckle all people make stupid mistakes: not all as stupid at this."

He told him he must abide by a n 8pm to 5am curfew for three months and pay £425 in costs.

Deciding not to impose a compensation order he added "I hope and trust MJ Church were insured and Mr Younger was compensated in some way."

Toop, of Old Down Road, Badminton, denied a similar charge and following a trial was found not guilty.

Although he had been operating the machine he insisted he was trying to pick and item from the line when Buckle pushed his colleague into the grabber.