Restaurant worker attacked boss with meat cleaver

Yang Li lashed out at the Hup Lee in Merry Street after being provoked, Hamilton Sheriff Court heard today.

Li (39), of Cedar Street, Glasgow, was ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid community work. He admitted striking Ken Wai Cheung on the arm with the kitchen implement to his severe injury.

The assault happened on August 4 last year.

Defence agent Gerry McGuire said Li had been intimidated by his boss and an “element of provocation” had resulted in the assault. The solicitor pointed out his client had no criminal record and has been assessed by social workers as posing “minimal risk”.

Mr McGuire told Sheriff Douglas Brown: “He appreciates that custody must be in the forefront of your lordship’s mind, but I would ask you to reflect the court’s displeasure by imposing a community payback order with a lengthy period of unpaid work.

“Evidently, this was a one-off and I would ask for an alternative to a custodial sentence.”

Sheriff Douglas Brown said he was willing in the “unusual” circumstances to go along with Mr McGuire’s plea and told Li he will have a year to complete the unpaid work.

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