A WODONGA man who head-butted the son of a former Albury police officer and councillor, causing him serious facial injuries, has received a seven-month suspended jail sentence and has been ordered to pay almost $4500 compensation.
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Charlie James Laskey, 20, of Marshall Street, appeared in Albury Local Court for sentencing on a charge of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm to Jacob Summers-Smith about 1.45am on March 29.
Mr Summers-Smith, the son of Lynda Summers, was intoxicated after attending the Albury Gold Cup the previous day and had believed Laskey was someone he knew.
His left eye socket and cheekbone were fractured when he was headbutted by Laskey.
Magistrate Megan Greenwood said a plate had been inserted to fix the fractures, but the victim had also suffered some nerve damage.
“The victim suffered serious injuries indeed,” Ms Greenwood said.
She said a message needed to be sent to the community, and particularly young men, about the consequences of violent offences.
But a pre-sentence report on Laskey was positive and he is considered of a low risk of re-offending.
Ms Greenwood said her preferred sentencing option would have been community service, but Laskey was ineligible because he lived in Victoria.
He was given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay $4461.62 in compensation.
The money will go towards paying Mr Summers-Smith’s wages and medical costs.
The engineering firm where Mr Summers-Smith works will receive $2841.72 for sick leave and wages it paid and $1619.90 will cover medical fees.
Solicitor Jason Hanke said Laskey had expressed remorse over the incident, but there was an element of provocation.
“The offending is confined to a headbutt and one attempted punch,” Mr Hanke said.
“In my submission, the level of provocation mitigates the offending.”
Mr Summers-Smith had approached Laskey near Sweetheart’s Pizza, thinking he was an associate.
Laskey told him he wasn’t the person he thought he was, but there was continued harassment.
When grabbed around the upper arms and briefly shaken by Mr Summers-Smith, Laskey told him not to touch him again or he would be punched.
Mr Summers-Smith reached out, but Laskey grabbed him by the front of the shirt, pulled him forward and headbutted him.
A punch thrown by Laskey had little or no impact.
Laskey contacted police after becoming aware of the injuries suffered by Mr Summers-Smith through a report in The Border Mail.
