A businessmen has been spared jail for ordering the beating of a rival over an alleged £170,000 debt.

Faris Mousa, 50, of Bollington, brought three ‘heavies’ to an office in Didsbury to beat up Alan Grey, owner of technology company Go 4 Communications.

But Mr Grey wasn’t in and instead one of the burly men beat up his office manager Russell Coxon, repeatedly punching and kneeing him around the body.

A court heard the man who dealt the beating told Mr Coxon ‘If he doesn’t pay’ they would come after Mr Grey and his family.

Mousa, a father of six, had turned up with three ‘heavies’ on June 30, 2014, although he had not taken part in the attack, Manchester Crown Court heard .

A security guard at the office entrance met Mousa, who urged the three men to go into the property while he waited.

They were taken by fearful office manager Mr Coxon, 45, into an office inside the Towers Business Park premises known as the goldfish bowl because glass walls and doors allow other staff to look inside.

Staff outside watched in horror as one of the men punched him in the mouth and rained blows all over his body as well as kneeing him.

During the assault, the man talked about a £170,000 debt and said that if it wasn’t paid up Mr Grey and his family would be next, prosecutor David Bentley told the told.

The two other men watched the assault unfold until one of them said: “Enough, come on. Let’s go.”

When the men left, police were called and Mr Coxon was taken to hospital for treatment to a cut lip.

“It was a completely unprovoked, in broad day-light in a business office. They seemed unconcerned as to whether anyone would witness it,” Mr Coxon said in a statement read to the court.

Mousa, who at the time owned Dale House on Dale Street in Manchester , had invested money into a business run by Mr Grey, who had been one of his tenants at Dale House, the court heard.

The Judge, Mr Recorder Parrington, told the defendant: “Whilst it’s clear you did not personally attack the victim, it cannot be denied you acted with others in this vicious attack on an entirely innocent man.”

Mousa, of Dunbah Lane in Bollington, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was also told to carry out 250 hours unpaid work and pay £500 compensation to Mr Coxon as well as £1,000 prosecution costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

He wept in court as his barrister Chris Daw QC outlined references from five friends who were sitting in the public gallery who had described Mousa as a doting father, tireless worker for a children’s charity, a kids’ football coach and a carer for his sick father.

Mousa was ‘deeply sorry’ for his crime, insisted Mr Daw.

The three men who entered the office are still believed to be at large.