Ex boxer floored waiter and ‘did a runner’ from restaurant
Stuart Alexander McFadyen (33) assaulted Gerado Imperato after he and his girlfriend were said to have run from Zio on Gisbun Road, Barrowford, without paying their £58 bill.
Burnley magistrates heard how Mr Imperato was pushed over and suffered an elbow injury which kept him off work for two weeks.
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Hide AdHis fellow waiter Serkan Yilmaz also feared he would be subjected to violence during the trouble outside the premises on July 1st.
The defendant and his girlfriend, who is now going to pay the bill, were said to have tried to take off after she was intending to pay, but found she hadn’t enough money to cover the meal.
McFadyen, a professional boxer for five years, had the alias The Burnley Banger.
Now a builder, he is currently not working due to seizures caused by his 21 years in the ring and is on benefits.
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Hide AdThe defendant, of Keighley Road, Colne, admitted assaulting Mr Imperato by beating him, making off without payment and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.
He was fined £125 and must pay £50 compensation, a £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs and a £180 criminal court charge.
The Bench said they accepted the assault was on the spur of the moment and it was a push rather than a blow.
Prosecutor Parveen Akhtar said that after the assault, the victim was worried about leaving his workplace late at night and feared he might get attacked again.
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Hide AdBen Leech (defending) said McFadyen was an amateur boxer for 16 years and a professional for five years.
He had had to give up work because of seizures and the earliest he could return to building was December this year.