Nicholas Scott Case, 54, sentenced for Gladstone assault
A Central Queensland contractor has been fined after blocking his former boss's car and punching him over alleged unpaid wages.
A Central Queensland man assaulted a former boss in an ugly confrontation over “unpaid wages”, a court has heard.
Nicholas Scott Case, 54, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to common assault and wilful damage.
The court heard at noon on October 23, Case saw a former boss (the victim) driving a car in Gladstone.
It was told that Case had previously worked for the man as a contracted employee but that job had ceased.
The police prosecutor said Case “diverted from his intended direction” and stopped his vehicle adjacent to the victim’s driver-side door “blocking the road”.
The court heard Case got out of his vehicle and approached the victim, who had wound down his window.
Case then said to the man: “You f---ing owe me money, c---.”
The prosecutor said Case was loud and aggressive before throwing several punches at the victim, striking him in the face.
The victim suffered a minor right eye injury, the court heard.
It was told that during the unprovoked attack, Case also hit the victim’s car door with an open hand, which left a dent.
The prosecution tendered photos of the victim’s injury and the car damage.
It said during an interview with police, Case told them the incident stemmed from “a long story which predominantly revolved around the frustration of unpaid wages when he was a contracted employee of the victim”.
Case had no criminal history and the prosecution did not seek any restitution.
A self-represented Case told Magistrate Mary Buchanan the victim owed him “approximately two months worth of wages”.
“And yeah, I really went about this whole thing stupidly,” he said.
Ms Buchanan fined Case $1000 and ordered he pay $500 compensation to the victim.
No conviction was recorded.
