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Thursday, Feb 21, 2013 4:27 PM UTC

Employee at stress ball company is big ball of stress

Darren Baldwin flew into a rage at his co-workers after a stress ball manufacturing company fired him

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Topics: Weird news, ,

Employee at stress ball company is big ball of stress (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Darren Baldwin was recently fired from his temporary job packing stress balls — those squishy little things that have legitimate uses in physical therapy but most often just litter the desks of management types — for a novelty product company in Blackpool, England.

But, in what seems like a move straight out of “Office Space,” Baldwin, wielding two knives, flew into a rage at the warehouse manager who dismissed him.

According to prosecutor Tracy Yates, Baldwin punched his manager in the face after he told him he’d been let go. Adding, “Baldwin then produced two knives and Mr. Dilworth was in fear of his life.”

“Baldwin showed the knives to his colleague worker and started to shout threats like ‘I will cut you up.’”

Baldwin has since pleaded guilty to affray and assault charges and has been released on bail.

 

 

Katie McDonough is an assistant editor for Salon, focusing on lifestyle. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com. More Katie Mcdonough.

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