Owners of Robertson restaurant Pizzas in the Mist involved in assault

Owners of a popular Robertson restaurant, a married couple who have been together for 32 years, became caught up in an ‘unusual’ fight after a long night serving food.

The owners of the Robertson favourite Pizzas in the Mist have been involved in an unusual case of assault.

Thomas Borbely, 51, and Belinda Borbely, 55, faced Moss Vale Local Court on Wednesday after both pleading guilty to common assault.

The Robertson couple have been together for 32 years and married for 22 years, the court heard. They own the Robertson restaurant Pizzas in the Mist together, which has been a local favourite since they opened in 1999.

On February 26 this year, the couple were working at the restaurant early in the morning after a long shift. Court documents reveal Mr Borbely had an unknown number of drinks and left Mrs Borbely to close the restaurant without him. While closing with a staff member, she had four drinks herself.

Belinda and Thomas Borbely both pleaded guilty to assault charges. Picture: Instagram @belinaborbely

When Mrs Borbely arrived home at around 3am, she found her husband asleep on their daughter’s bed and put a blanket over him. According to court documents, he woke and began verbally abusing her, calling her pathetic.

Mrs Borbely became upset with what he was saying and hit him three times while he was on the bed. In retaliation, he pushed her backwards as he got off the bed and she fell to the floor. He then hit her on the head before leaving the room, according to court documents.

At nearly 6am, Mr Borbely went to the police station and disclosed the assaults to the police.

“I’ve hit my partner but she’s hit me and now I want to kill myself,” court documents reveal he said.

He was taken to hospital in accordance with mental health provisions, and both Mr and Mrs Borbely were later charged with assault.

The lawyer for the couple, Michael Doughty, told the court the circumstances of the case made it notable.

“It’s a really unusual matter,” he said.

“There’s a disclosure of something previously unknown and immediate admissions of guilt.”

Belinda and Thomas Borbely are the owners of Pizzas in the Mist in Robertson. Picture: Facebook

Mr Doughty said the compulsion to confess to the police, who may not have known about the incident otherwise, showed Mr Borbely’s remorse.

Magistrate Michael Antrum agreed the case was complicated.

“This is, I’m sure, a very difficult circumstance for you both,” he told the couple.

“If this was a matter in which there was some history of violence, there would be a different complexion.”

Magistrate Antrum said their decades-long domestic relationship and business together showed a different calibre of couple than the night of the assaults.

“It’s difficult to see why you’d have two people of such backgrounds before the court,” he said.

The magistrate told Mr and Mrs Borbely they had to assess what had led to the assaults and what they could do to prevent future incidents. He noted that both parties had been drinking on the night they assaulted each other.

Pizzas in the Mist in Robertson is beloved throughout the Southern Highlands. Picture: Google

“There is a third party in all of this – and it’s alcohol,” he said.

“People who change their relationship with alcohol are better off for it.”

Despite acknowledging the mitigating factors, the magistrate was firm with the couple about the severity of the charges before the court.

“There is no place for domestic violence in our community,” he said.

Magistrate Antrum placed Mr and Mrs Borbely under Conditional Release Orders for nine months, with a two year apprehended violence order in place to benefit both parties.

If you’d to speak to someone about domestic violence, please call the 1800 Respect helpline at 1800 737 732 or you can use the online chat.

Lifeline: 13 11 14.