‘All just a joke’: Former chef charged with sexual assault and stalking

A former Brisbane chef who is accused of sexually assaulting and stalking at least four women has been granted bail after the court heard he told a witness the alleged offending was “all just a joke”.

Chef, Mitchell Efeimoff. Source: Facebook.

A former Brisbane chef who is accused of sexually assaulting and stalking at least four women has been granted bail after the court heard he told a witness the alleged offending was “all just a joke”.

Lawyers for Mitchell James Efeimoff appeared in the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Friday before Justice Thomas Bradley where the court heard a condition of his bail is that he not to have contact with women or girls aged under 21 except for members of his family or that of his partner.

The 34-year-old, who has been in custody for nearly two months, has permission to live with his parents in Beachmere, north of Brisbane, and complete counselling.

He is allowed to work remotely for his lifelong friend, a Mr Henderson.

He had been planning to live in Dalby, west of Brisbane, with his partners’ sister.

His lawyer submitted that in his remote job he will not have any contact with young women.

Last month police charged him with 18 counts of sexual assault and four counts of unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassing or abuse.

Chef, Mitchell Efeimoff source: Facebook.

The incidents are alleged to have occurred between February 20, 2022 and April 23, 2024.

During Monday’s part-heard bail application, Crown prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher opposed the bail application, telling the court that he could reoffend.

“The direct concern raised by Ms Gallagher, and it seems to have some force, is that he should not be in a position where he is exercising power or authority over young women,” Justice Bradley noted.

Efeimoff applied for bail in the Supreme Court after he was refused bail by Magistrate Mark Howden in the Brisbane Arrests Court last month.

That court was told Efeimoff had the alleged victims’ Instagram accounts, Snapchats and used them as a means to contact the girls to commit some of the alleged offending.

“One of the complainants who is an 18 year old woman has said that he deliberately touched her buttocks, stroked her back … holding her and squeezing her hips from behind as he walked past her,” Mr Howden said.

In another incident, Efeimoff is accused of placing his hand in front of a woman’s pelvic area and saying the words like “move your puss”.

In another incident, Mr Howden said the defendant allegedly stuck his fingers inside a woman’s mouth without her consent saying words to the effect of “next time it will be my d***”.

The court heard some of the alleged sexual assaults were captured on CCTV.

His case is due to return to the Brisbane Magistrates Court for mention on July 8.