A night porter at an Aberdeen city centre hotel was repeatedly punched by his off-duty boss during a drunken attack.
Mihails Hodzajevs had been drinking in the Jury’s Inn hotel at Guild Square while he was off-shift when he got into an altercation with the porter.
Hodzajevs, 34, repeatedly asked the man if he was doing his job properly, then followed him through a door and assaulted him.
Despite the violent episode and resigning from his role soon afterwards, Hodzajevs has managed to get a similar job at another hotel.
‘Regrettably consuming alcohol to excess’
Fiscal depute Stephanie Milligan told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened just after midnight on November 14 2021.
The porter was dealing with customers when Hodzajevs, who had been drinking in the bar area, approached him and began asking if he was doing his job properly.
Ms Milligan said: “The complainer entered the staff office and the accused followed and punched him to the head.”
And Hodzajevs again followed his victim as he tried to go back through to the bar area and punched him a second time.
Fortunately, the porter was not injured.
Hodzajevs, of Great Northern Road, Aberdeen, pled guilty to a racially aggravated charge of assault.
Defence agent Liam Mcallister said: “He had been this gentleman’s boss in a managerial capacity.
‘Alcohol does not agree with him’
“Clearly, following this incident, he resigned, recognising how inappropriate his behaviour was.
“He was not in the course of his employment when this took place.
“He was off-duty and regrettably was consuming alcohol to excess.”
Mr Mcallister added: “He’s in full-time employment having found alternative employment in the same industry.
“He now recognises that alcohol does not agree with him.
“He’s been abstinent from alcohol for the entirety of 2023.”
The solicitor said the offence was “out of character” and that Hodzajevs is normally a “courteous, polite and well-regarded individual”.
Sheriff Shirley McKenna ordered him to pay a fine of £515.
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