A FLOORER from West Moors sprayed a former friend in the face with a ‘puppy training aid’ after texting: “Death row. Tick tock, tick tock.”

Matthew Pearson, of Ringwood Road attacked Christopher Giblin in a packed pub after the two fell out over a work dispute.

Police who visited the White Heather in Ferndown said the substance sprayed by Pearson was akin to CS or Parva gas.

Rufus Taylor, who prosecuted the case at Bournemouth Crown Court, said both Mr Giblin and the defendant had worked for the Bournemouth-based Westbourne Flooring Co.

Pearson then lost his job, and Mr Giblin was asked to take up the role in his place.

Text messages were exchanged, with the defendant warning the victim: “Tick tick boom, *****-*******.”

On January 29, the two had a “chance meeting” at the pub and Pearson, 28, asked Mr Giblin outside for a fight. However, the victim went to play on the fruit machines with friend Mitchell Hack.

A short while later, Pearson exchanged words with Mr Hack and grabbed him around the neck.

Mr Giblin and another friend, Jade England, stepped in to break up the fight.

The defendant then sprayed them in the face with “some sort of noxious substance,” Mr Taylor said.

“They felt their eyes sting and their faces burning,” he added.

“Police were called. At 9.30pm the officers attended the pub and felt the spray still in the atmosphere.

“They explained the substance was similar to Parva or CS gas.”

However, Pearson said he had reached into the pocket of his coat and found a puppy training aid.

The substance was not tested and a veterinary nurse said such a solution would be “unlikely” to have had such a strong effect.

Mitigating, Robert Grey said a “red mist must have developed in front of him”.

“It is a one-off. He must have lost his temper, clearly,” Mr Grey added.

“There was a closeness [between the men] which went sour.”

Pearson, who went on to launch his own flooring company and now employs two full-time members of staff, admitted administering a poison or noxious substance with intent and two counts of assault by beating.

Judge Brian Forster said the attack was carried out in “revenge”.

He sentenced Pearson to eight months in prison suspended for 15 months and to pay compensation to each of his victims, as well as court costs.

The defendant was also handed a five-year restraining order.