A SEX scandal involving employees from Virgin Mobile erupted into violence at the firm's lavish Christmas party.
Simmering tensions between rival employees Richard Gillingham (right, with his partner Amanda) and Michael Lawn turned into a violent fracas during the firm's Christmas bash at Reflections nightclub in Westbury.
Magistrates in Trowbridge heard how Gillingham, 27, who admitted a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm to the man he cuckolded, started a torrid affair last year with Mr Lawn's wife Amanda, while all three of them worked at the Trowbridge mobile phone firm.
When she became pregnant with Gillingham's child last summer, Mrs Lawn told her husband about the affair and started divorce proceedings.
News of the affair quickly leaked out to other employees at the company's offices on the White Horse Business Park in North Bradley.
Prosecutor Frank Murphy said Mrs Lawn was eight weeks pregnant when she told her husband about her unfaithfulness.
After speaking to their line managers at Virgin Mobile, the love cheats and Mr Lawn were allowed to remain in their posts.
Mr Murphy said it was not until the firm's Christmas party that the tension exploded into violence.
Gillingham, of Whitehill, Bradford on Avon, approached Mr Lawn and a fellow worker, David Ramwell, at Reflections nightclub while they were standing at the bar.
Mr Murphy said: "Without any words being spoken Mr Gillingham offered Mr Lawn his hand to shake.
"Mr Lawn was completely taken aback and said 'You must be f****** joking, mate'.
"The defendant then headbutted him to the nose which caused his head to snap back. The defendant then disappeared into the crowd."
Mr Lawn, who suffered a fractured nose in the attack, was escorted from the club by bouncers after the incident.
Both Gillingham and Mr Lawn are no longer employed by Virgin Mobile.
Michael Wills, defending, said the whole matter had been extremely sensitive and Gillingham had lost his job as a result of the attack.
He said: "My client and Mr Lawn's wife started an affair as a result of her unhappiness with her husband. This was known when they were at this party.
"Mr Lawn had been drinking. His version of what happened to him differs from Mr Ramwell's.
"Ultimately Mr Lawns was escorted from the premises and the escort was physical. It is a very unfortunate case."
Now living with the former Mrs Lawn and their young baby. Gillingham told the magistrates he was worried about breaking his bail conditions, which forbid him to contact his victim, by running into Mr Lawn, who lives in Melksham and now works at Budgens supermarket in Bradford on Avon.
The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports to be prepared and will resume on July 4 at Chippenham magistrates' court.
Allegations of sex in the nightclub car park, drug abuse in the toilets and violence at Virgin Mobile's lavish party hit the headlines in December.
Workers were treated to a free bar and appearances by celebrity DJ Boy George and pop group Liberty.
