A drunk chef broke a workmate’s ribs and swung a punch at his boss during a drunken attack after his last day working at a Highland pub and restaurant.
Bogdan Kocon headbutted his co-worker at The Steam Inn in Mallaig and then kicked his stricken colleague as he lay “dazed” on the floor.
Then the 41-year-old charged at the manager, causing him to flee and lock himself in a bedroom.
Kocon’s assault victim, who spent a night in hospital, suffered broken ribs and bruising to his face, eye and thumb, Inverness Sheriff Court heard.
His attacker admitted charges of assault and attempted assault during the incident on March 1 of this year.
A surprise attack
Fiscal depute Pauline Gair told the court that, on February 28, Kocon and his colleague had finished their shift at The Steam Inn and headed to the bar for a drink.
They then returned to their on-site accommodation, where they sat in the kitchen drinking together “as it was the accused’s last day working there”.
In the early hours of the next morning, Kocon launched a surprise attack on his colleague as he headed to the fridge.
“Out of nowhere, the accused headbutted him to the left-hand side of his head.
“This left the witness dazed on the floor. He was then aware of the accused kicking his body,” Mrs Gair said.
Bloodstained victim
When the general manager of the establishment entered the kitchen and saw the bloodstained victim, he asked what had happened.
“At this point, the accused swung a punch at him but he avoided it.
“The witness then saw the accused starting to charge at him, so, he ran to his room and locked himself in there and contacted the police,” the fiscal explained.
Police and paramedics were called and the assault victim was taken to Belford Hospital in Fort William.
He was found to have three broken ribs and bruising to the right-hand side of his face, right eye and left thumb.
He was kept overnight and discharged the following morning with antibiotics and pain relief.
Kocon was arrested and taken to Fort William police station.
‘Very large quantity of alcohol’
Kocon’s defence solicitor Stephen Kennedy said his client had been working as an agency chef at The Steam Inn but was due to leave the following day.
He said Kocon had “consumed a very large quantity of alcohol” and as a result, had “very little recollection of events”.
He told the court that Kocon believed there had been an altercation with the first complainer, with the second complainer arriving on the scene soon after.
Sheriff Sara Matheson fined Kocon, of Arrochar, Argyll, £1575.
