Kamrul Islam, 47, (pictured) allegedly hurled the burning chilli into the face of David Evans, 47, while he was on a night out with his wife
A customer told how a chef accused him of ‘wanting a free meal’ for complaining about his curry – and then threw hot chilli powder in his eyes, a court heard.
David Evans, 47, was eating at the Indian restaurant with his wife when 47-year-old Kamrul Islam allegedly flew into a rage.
The couple complained about the restaurant’s ‘rubbery’ chicken that tasted like ‘paraffin’ when Islam began hurling abuse at them, a court heard.
Islam, owner of the Prince of Bengal restaurant, allegedly shouted: ‘It is f***ing tandoori chicken’ and ‘you only want a free meal, I’ve met you people before.’
The court heard Mr Evans then followed Islam to the kitchen demanding an apology but the chef grabbed a handful of chilli powder and launched it into his eyes.
Mr Evans said he had gone to the restaurant for a ‘quiet meal’ and ordered a bottle of lager and a bottle of wine for his college lecturer wife Michelle, 48.
Pipe-fitter Mr Evans said: ‘I ordered chicken tandoori and my wife ordered a chicken dish as well.
‘We started eating our food and it tasted rubbery. It tasty like paraffin. It was shiny.
‘I go to lots of Indian restaurants and I have never tasted food like that before.
‘A young waiter came over and he was very polite and said how is your meal. We said the chicken doesn’t seem right.’
The jury heard two chefs came to the table to apologise before Islam finally came to see the couple.
Mr Evans said: ‘He seemed irate you know. He said ‘what’s the problem here?’
Mr Evans and his wife Michelle (pictured together. leaving court today) complained and said their meal was ‘tough and rubbery’
David Evans was rushed to hospital where a saline drip and water was used to flush out his eyes
‘I just said the chicken doesn’t seem right. He said there nothing wrong with the chicken.
‘My wife said we were supposed to have tandoori and he said ‘it is f***ing tandoori.’
‘My wife then showed him the menu and he snatched the menu out of her hand and said ‘What do you know about f***ing tandoori chicken.’
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard Islam’s wife came out of the kitchen to apologise but Islam continued to shout at the couple.
Mr Evans said: ‘He said ‘you only want a free meal. I’ve met you people before.’
‘I said we are willing to pay for the meal but I’m not paying for the chicken. His language, I’ve never heard anything like it in my life.’
The court heard Mr Evans followed Islam to the kitchen of the restaurant in Tonypandy, Rhondda, South Wales.
The couple had planned to enjoy a romantic evening at the Prince of Bengal restaurant in Tonypandy, Rhondda, South Wales
Mr Evans said: ‘I said please can you come and apologise to my wife.
‘He marched off. He turned around and that’s when he threw the chilli powder in my eyes.’
The court heard Mr Evans ‘doubled up in pain’ and his reaction was ‘immediate and obvious.’
He was rushed to hospital where a saline drip and water was used to flush out his eyes.
Father-of-two Mr Evans – whose daughter Sophie, 24, was runner up 2010’s Over The Rainbow and later played Dorothy in Wizard of Oz in the West End – also suffered burns where the powder landed on him, the court heard.
Islam, of Pentre, South Wales, denies to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Islam claims he threw the powder in self defence after Mr Evans ‘formed a fist’ as if to punch him on January 21 last year.
He told police Mr Evans pursued him ‘with a view to violence’ and said he had been polite to the couple.
The trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court continues.
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