A chef at a popular Fife hotel has admitted assaulting one of his colleagues with a kitchen knife.
Daniel Beattie, 28, of Union Street, Cowdenbeath, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court where he pled guilty to seizing Taylor Hunter and striking him on the body with a knife at Drummonds Hotel in Balbirnie Street, Markinch, on July 29.
Depute fiscal Alistair McDermid told the court a dispute arose in the hotel after duty manager, Mr Hunter, made a comment about suicide, to which Beattie took exception.
An argument followed, during which Mr Hunter heard Beattie say he was “going to stab him”.
Staff managed to get in between the pair and Beattie went into the kitchen, followed by Mr Hunter.
As they continued to argue, Mr McDermid said Beattie grabbed a kitchen knife with a thick blade and “struck out” at Mr Hunter, cutting him in the lower right arm.
Staff intervened and police were called, although Beattie told officers he had not intended to strike his victim’s arm.
Mr Hunter was treated by paramedics at the scene for a one-inch long cut.
Solicitor advocate Scott McKenzie told the court Beattie had “snapped” after Mr Hunter had made “unwanted sexual advances” towards him.
Mr McDermid confirmed Beattie had told police the complainer had made a sexual comment and he had subsequently “lost the rag”.
Mr McKenzie added: “He admits he deliberately used the knife to try and frighten him, but didn’t mean to strike him.
“He can’t recall the exact moment when the complainer became injured but he accepts that he caused it with the knife he picked up.”
Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist QC imposed a three-month structured deferred sentence and fixed a further hearing for mid-December.
