A man who glassed someone in the face in a central Dunedin bar has been sentenced to eight months’ home detention.
The victim of 27-year-old Jack Hogan’s October 2 attack was left with significant scarring because of the gaping wounds, the Dunedin District Court heard yesterday.
"It’s serious injury and could’ve been a heck of a lot worse ... Fundamentally, resorting to this kind of violence in these circumstances is entirely unacceptable," Judge David Robinson said.
Hogan had been drinking before he arrived at Carousel Bar on the night in question.
He approached the victim, who was socialising with a group of friends.
After failed attempts to ingratiate himself with them, Hogan aimed "rude slurs" at the people then sat down next to the victim.
According to court documents, the defendant was asked to leave but instead continued to antagonise the man.
Unable to get a rise out of the victim, Hogan slammed the pint glass into the side of his face.
Hogan had no memory of the incident but when interviewed by police he accepted his guilt and explained "he must have got angry at what the victim said and reacted".
Judge Robinson said the outcome could have been far more severe.
"Your victim has been incredibly lucky that the glass went into his face a centimetre above his eye," he said.
A Corrections report on Hogan assessed him as "deeply remorseful" and counsel John Westgate said his client now planned to abstain from alcohol.
"You now recognise when you drink alcohol you become impulsive, aggressive and confrontational," Judge Robinson said.
A doctor provided evidence to the court of Hogan’s mental health issues which led to him acting impulsively but said when he was sober he was "polite, co-operative and hard-working".
As well as the home detention term, Hogan was sentenced to 100 hours’ community work and ordered to pay the victim $1500.
