Woman charged for pinching man on testicles on board party boat
FINANCE worker Alice Zhang Thomas was on board a party boat for a work function when she approached a complete stranger and pinched him on the testicles. That was just the beginning of the balls up which led to a common assault charge.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THEY say a gentleman should always give up his seat for a lady and one man has learned the hard way.
Finance worker Alice Zhang Thomas was meant to be enjoying the Christmas spirit with her colleagues on Sydney Harbour on December 7 when she went a little, well, nuts.
The balls up began on board a party boat, where employees from two different companies were celebrating their Christmas parties.
Mrs Thomas, a married mother-of-one, approached a complete stranger — Zhe Zhang — who was seated on the middle level and minding several chairs for his friends.
Undeterred, Mrs Thomas sat down anyway and an argument ensued.
“You know in Australia a man cannot beat a woman but a woman can beat a man,” Mrs Thomas said, according to a statement of facts tendered in court.
Mrs Thomas then pinched the grown man on the testicles before standing up and smacking the victim’s glasses off his head.
The facts state the squabbling over the seat continued while Mrs Thomas landed a number of blows to Mr Zhang’s face.
She then got her hands on a framed certificate, which Mr Zhang had received as part of the end of work celebrations, and hit him over the head with it.
MORE FROM AVA BENNY-MORRISON
ALLEGED FATAL HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER REFUSED BAIL
‘DOOMSDAY’: 213 WEAPONS FOUND IN SYDNEY ‘SNIPER LAIR
The frame cracked and Mr Zhang suffered cuts to his face.
Mrs Thomas left Mr Zhang to it and the party went on.
Once the boat docked at Pyrmont, Mrs Thomas’ and Mr Zhang’s respective bosses forced the disgruntled partygoers to apologise to one another.
Mr Zhang later reported the assault to police and Mrs Thomas was charged with common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The drama continued in the Downing Centre Local Court last week as Mrs Thomas pleaded guilty.
The court heard the Strathfield woman was “extremely embarrassed and upset with how she acted”.
A demure looking Mrs Thomas hung her head as Magistrate Alison Viney recounted her actions before a packed courtroom.
“This is an appalling display of lack of temper quite frankly,’ Ms Viney said.
The magistrate convicted Mrs Zhang and fined her $2800.
Turning her back on the bar table, Mrs Thomas then collapsed in a heap on the floor.
In theatrical scenes, a supporter leapt from her chair in the public gallery declaring with gusto “she is innocent” and “the evidence is fabricated”.
Mrs Thomas remained on the carpet sobbing for a couple of minutes while the magistrate calmly called for a court sheriff.
She was in better spirits as she walked out of the courthouse half an hour later arm in arm with her loyal defender and friend.