A couple beat up a binman in a violent attack because they couldn't recycle their own duvet.
The woman and her partner pleaded guilty to a shocking assault on a SUEZ recycling crew member.
They were sentenced at Doncaster Magistrates Court after the firm decided to publicise the assault because it was so severe, but bosses said it was sadly not an uncommon occurrence.
The crew, the recycling firm said, were simply doing their job collecting recycling items from Doncaster, Yorkshire.
They rejected a recycling bin and explained to the couple that they couldn’t empty it because it had an old duvet stuffed inside.
This is not one of the materials that can be recycled through the blue bin and has to be taken to a household waste recycling centre (HWRC).
The couple than chased a member of the crew down the road and attacked him.
Crews were working in the Askern area of Doncaster and were told duvet inside, could not be emptied as it did not have materials that could be recycled.
But fortunately the assault was captured on the bin lorry's CCTV which was used as evidence at the hearing.
John Wilkinson, regional director, of the recycling firm said: “We were shocked and sorry that a member of our crew had to endure such horrific and unprovoked abuse.
"SUEZ has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the abuse and harassment of our employees who are delivering an essential public service.
"Regrettably, assaults on our collection crews are not uncommon and we would like to thank South Yorkshire Police for their support in pursuing this incident."
Councillor Mark Houlbrook, portfolio holder for sustainability and waste at Doncaster Council said: “We absolutely deplore the actions of the individuals involved in this incident.
"There is no situation in which this behaviour should be accepted or tolerated. It should be a given that all staff in the workplace are treated with respect.”
Police say they were able to secure guilty pleas from both defendants and a community sentence was imposed by the court,
PC Egan-Wyer, of South Yorkshire Police, said: “This was a shocking assault on workers who were simply trying to do their job.
“I am pleased we were able to secure such a strong case which resulted in both defendants pleading guilty.
"I would hope that hours working in the community will help both of them to realise how valuable these workers are and encourage them to treat them with the respect they deserve in the future.
“We will always endeavour to do all we can to seek justice in cases like these and put offenders before the courts.”
