Inmate eight-ball attack

A PRISONER with a long criminal history who punched a fellow inmate will serve more time behind bars.

Andrew Denis Dare, 36, has pleaded guilty to one count of assault and was sentenced by Justice Robert Pearce in the Supreme Court in Hobart yesterday.

The court heard Dare and fellow minimum security prisoner Joey Johnstone were playing a game of eight ball on August 1 last year for a bottle of Coke. An argument ensued and when Mr Johnstone started to walk away, Dare — without warning — punched him to the side of his jaw.

Justice Pearce said the single blow caused a fracture to each side of Mr Johnstone’s lower jaw and he needed surgery to insert plates into his jaw.

Justice Pearce said Dare had “a long history of offending throughout his adult life”, and was serving a sentence for aggravated burglary and aggravated armed robbery when he punched Mr Johnstone.

Justice Pearce said Dare also had a long history of anxiety and depression and serious long-term alcohol and drug abuse.

He said without parole or remissions, Dare would finish his current sentence, for aggravated burglary and aggravated armed robbery, in March.

He sentenced Dare to nine months’ jail, to be served after he completes the previous sentence, and ordered he be eligible to apply for parole after serving half of the nine-month sentence.