Fine for drunken assault

A BANNOCKBURN man, who fractured another man’s nose and eye socket in a pub assault, has been fined $4000 and placed on a community corrections order.

Lee Wilkinson, 33, pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday to a single charge of recklessly causing serious injury.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Alana Groves said Wilkinson and the other male were not known to each other but had been drinking with friends at the Bannockburn Hotel on May 6.

Sen-Constable Groves said that, earlier in the evening there had been a verbal altercation between the pair with the victim pushing Wilkinson away and causing him to fall over.

“About 10.30pm the victim was sitting at a bar table when Wilkinson leant across and punched him to the face, knocking him backwards off his chair,” she said. “The victim received a fractured nose and eye socket and some muscle damage as a result.”

Sen-Constable Groves said that, when interviewed, Wilkinson told police he didn’t like the way the victim had been looking at him.

“He said he knew he had stuffed up, was remorseful and shocked to learn of the extent of the victim’s injuries.”

Martin Amad, for Wilkinson, said his client had been drinking all day with the victim and friends when the incident occurred.

Mr Amad said his client had no prior convictions but Magistrate Ron Saines, alerted to the fact Wilkinson had lived in West Australia, asked if he had any priors in that state.

Inquiries by the police prosecutor revealed Wilkinson had some historic priors in WA for reckless driving, burglary and common assault. Wilkinson was convicted, fined $4000 and placed on a 15-month community corrections order to undergo assessment and treatment for alcohol abuse.