Chef who worked with Michelin star greats stamped on football fan's head after learning he supported Manchester United
01.04.2023 - 11:03
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A chef who worked alongside Gordon Ramsay and Simon Rogan in some of the north west's top restaurants launched a vicious attack against a rival football supporter on a train, a court heard. Benjamin Nessling, 32 , worked at two Michelin starred Moor Hall in Aughton, Lancs, before the Covid pandemic hit, LancsLive reports.
He also worked alongside Simon Rogan, who runs the three Michelin starred L'Enclume, near Cartmel, before taking on the role of Head Chef at Cockoo Brow Inn, near Ambleside.
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But on February 20 last year, Nessling's 'Jekyll and Hyde' persona emerged when he attacked a man on a train between Preston and Barrow. Shocking CCTV footage showed Nessling follow the man into the train's toilet and punch him at least five times. As his victim fell to the floor, Nessling stamped on his head leaving the man unconscious as horrified passengers intervened.
One woman told police she deliberately sat in a separate carriage to Nessling after he made her feel uncomfortable on the platform at Preston railway station. She described how Nessling boarded the train at 7.50pm, carrying shot glasses, and sat down next to a group of black charity workers.
She said as the train set off, Nessling began making racist comments and asked the charity workers if they sold drugs. A younger man sat down beside him and started talking about football, but when it emerged he supported Manchester United, Nessling, a Liverpool FC, supporter became annoyed.
The younger man apologised and took his phone out to take a selfie, but Nessling became more angry, telling him: "Get that phone out of my face." The young man apologised