Toowoomba man Adam Joseph John Khan, 30, pleads guilty to assaulting co-worker

A man who went after his co-worker armed with a metal pipe said he did so because they were allegedly “spreading rumours” and “making trouble”.

Adam Joseph John Khan, 30, pleaded guilty to assaulting his co-worker in a Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday August 23, 2024. Picture: NewsCorp Australia

A Toowoomba man armed with a metal pipe attacked his co-worker for supposedly spreading malicious rumours.

Crows Nest man Adam Joseph John Khan, 30, pleaded guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday, August 23 to assaulting his co-worker and causing damage to his car.

Police prosecutor Chris Willson told the court Mr Khan had repeatedly punched his co-worker, with whom he had a personal relationship, outside their workplace before a shift in March of this year.

The attack was unprovoked and left the victim in considerable pain.

“He believed his co-worker had been spreading rumours and making trouble for him in his personal life,” Mr Willson said.

Later that day, Mr Khan returned to the premises and confronted the man for a second time while he remained in his car.

Adam Joseph John Khan, 30, pleaded guilty to assaulting his co-worker in a Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday August 23, 2024. Picture: NewsCorp Australia

“The defendant, having been sent home from his shift due to the assault, lay in wait (for his co-worker),” Mr Willson said.

“He got out of his ute with a metal pole and used it to smash the driver’s side window of (his co-worker’s car).”

Mr Khan then tried to flee in his ute but damaged a nearby power pole in the process.

Solicitor Paige Heatherington said her client let things get out of hand but was “very remorseful” for his actions.

“There was some tension growing outside of work in the lead up to this incident,” she said

“He simply had enough and went to confront the complainant when they were both at work and instructs me he snapped.”

Magistrate Michelle Dooley ruled a period of probation was appropriate due to the violent nature of the crime.

“It is a completely unacceptable way of dealing with these issues,” Ms Dooley said.

Khan was charged with common assault, wilful damage and driving without due care and attention.

He was sentenced to six months probation and ordered to pay $250 to the victim within 30 days.