A magistrate who admits he’s ‘very much a fan’ of MasterChef has dished out a $1000 fine to the show’s celebrity judge George Calombaris for assaulting a man at the A-League grand final.
Magistrate Peter Miszalski was unsympathetic to the chef on Friday, recording a conviction for common assault and admonishing his aggressive behaviour.
Calombaris immediately lodged an appeal against the sentence, court documents show.
MasterChef judge George Calombaris (pictured) has been fined $1000 after he assaulted a man at last season’s A-League grand final in Sydney
Calombaris (pictured) pleaded guilty in August to assaulting a 19-year-old fan at the 2016-17 season decider between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium in May
The 39-year-old pleaded guilty in August to assaulting a 19-year-old fan at May’s season decider between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory at Allianz Stadium.
Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court heard on Friday that Calombaris may have been provoked by insults shouted from the crowd after the game.
Footage played by the prosecutor showed the celebrity chef waving his Victory scarf and pointing into the crowd before moving past police and security to confront a man.
The court previously heard Calombaris called the victim a ‘big-mouth man’ and a ‘dodgy c***’ before punching him in the abdomen.
Mr Miszalski admitted he was a long-time fan of MasterChef – particularly when participants caramelised onions.
The magistrate’s remarks brought a brief smile from Calombaris.
The court heard the 38-year-old (pictured) called the victim a ‘big-mouth man’ and a ‘dodgy c***’ before punching him in the abdomen
MasterChef judge George Calombaris is appealing against a $1000 fine for assaulting a spectator during this year’s A-League grand final
But Mr Miszalski’s sympathetic tone ended when he admonished Calombaris’s aggressive reaction to the ‘yahoo’ factor in the crowd.
‘I suspect (media) labelled him a thug,’ the magistrate said when informed the highly-publicised altercation resulted in Calombaris missing out on a $300,000 ambassadorship.
‘It’s not as though somebody’s come up to him and got into his face and abused him, he’s made his way into the crowd and started to mouth off in no uncertain words.
‘You don’t get sucked into the drama. Once you do that you’re gone.’
The magistrate said he wanted to send a message that high-profile people wouldn’t simply get a slap on the wrist.
George Calombaris did not comment as he brushed past reporters as he left Downing Centre Local Court following his sentence for assault on Friday
MasterChef judge George Calombaris banned himself from A-League games for 12 months after he assaulted another spectator at this year’s grand final
‘It was a very public display of aggression,’ he said.
‘I watched those programs many years ago and was very much a fan. To see a man like this come before the court is a tragedy.’
After pleading guilty the celebrity chef stood down from his role as Victory’s No.1 ticket holder, banned himself from A-League games for 12 months and expressed sorrow for the incident.
Calombaris was subdued as he left court on Friday, quickly pushing past reporters before he climbed into a waiting car without making any comment.
His appeal is scheduled to be heard at the Downing Centre District Court on January 31.
Masterchef judge George Calombaris is due back in the Downing Centre on January 31 for a District Court appeal against his sentence for assault
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