Chef fined over bathroom assault

Sunday 11 June 2017

A demi-chef has been fined £1,000 for assaulting a woman in her home after she returned later than expected following drinks with work colleagues.

Polish national Dariusz Burdynski admitted one count of common assault, which left a woman with bruising to her head and arm.

The Court heard that on 9 April, the victim’s return at 02:00 rather than the “expected” time of midnight had led to the 30-year-old’s “annoyance”. 

A heated argument broke out between the pair, which continued in the morning.

When the defendant entered the “small” bathroom of the property, the victim followed, with both parties shouting at each other and the victim beginning to push him.

Mr Burdynski had returned the pushes in an attempt to “create space” between the two, the defence argued, but, “…more times and with more force than he needed to”, causing her to hit the shelves on the wall.

As she sat on the floor crying, the defendant bent down to check on the victim, but after she “resisted and struggled”, he left the room. Upon returning, the door was said to have hit the victim on the head once more, resulting in further bruising.

Nonetheless, the court heard that such behaviour was “totally out of character” for the hard worker who had, “…made Jersey his home” after seven years in the Island, and that he had acknowledged that, “…having an emotional discussion when at least one person has been drinking is often inflammatory.”

In sentencing, Relief Magistrate David Le Cornu described the assault as “serious”. 

“I considered whether this offence justifies a custodial sentence or its alternative… But having regard to all the matters that I have had referred to me, and that I have read, I am able to deal with this case by way of a financial penalty,” he said.

Ordering a fine equivalent to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, the Magistrate warned:

“You’ve been lucky this time, but if there’s any repetition of this behaviour, the court may not be so lenient.”