‘Homesick’ chef smashed portacom

A JAPANESE chef who punched a workmate and smashed a portacom using a golf club in Glenorchy last week appeared ‘‘homesick’’, Judge Bernadette Farnan said.

Suguru Yoshimine (22) appeared by audio visual link in the Queenstown District Court yesterday and admitted possession of an offensive weapon, a golf club, in circumstances which showed an intention to use it to commit an offence involving the threat of violence, and assaulting David Wilson, both on February 6 at Glenorchy.

Prosecuting sergeant Ian Collin said Yoshimine began working as a chef in Glenorchy in November and was living in staff accommodation with other colleagues.

While having breakfast on February 6, he began to verbally abuse a female colleague and when challenged he left.

He later returned, appeared intoxicated, swore at and abused his supervisor and stated he was ‘‘quitting’’.

Sgt Collin said later the same day he went to play a round of golf with Mr Wilson.

The pair played several holes when the defendant advised he ‘‘needed to do something’’, picked up a golf club and walked away.

‘‘Fearing something was wrong, the victim followed him.’’

Mr Wilson tried to stop Yoshimine and calm him down, however, he started running towards his place of employment, went to the rear of a business portacom and struck a closed glass sliding door with the club.

He was taken to the ground by the victim and eventually calmed down.

‘‘However, without warning, he approached the victim and struck him once with a closed fist to the left side of his face.

‘‘He was restrained by staff and customers holding him on the ground as he yelled and lashed out.’’

Lawyer Joseph Mooney said Yoshimine put the incident down to ‘‘workrelated stress’’.

‘‘He is very eager to return to Japan and go to a hot spring for a few days and destress, so to speak.’’

On both charges he was convicted and his sentence deferred for six months.