A GBH victim needed surgery after a drunken disagreement at a friend's house ended in violence.
Nick Gregory, of Shelfinch in Toothill, pleaded guilty to the charge of wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent on August 15.
The 52-year-old injured another man after he invited friends back to his home following an evening of drinks at The Running Horse pub on May 3, 2021.
Tony Novogrodsky, prosecuting, told the court that the group of friends consumed more alcohol at the residence, then “the conversation got into drug taking and whether everyone would like to know what the effects were like”.
The defendant took offence at this “inappropriate” topic being discussed while his son was within earshot and asked the victim, who had mentioned it, to leave the house.
As the victim walked away, Gregory came from behind, tried to kick him, and then successfully landed a kick on the victim’s right ankle.
When the victim went to A&E later that night, he claimed that he had “tripped”, and underwent an operation to fix the fracture.
After admitting the real cause of the injury, the victim reported it to the police, and his assailant was arrested.
In a victim statement read out in court, the victim explained how he felt more than two years on from the attack.
He wrote: “My anxiety has reached new levels. I have scars as a constant reminder of the assault.
“I have put on a lot of weight due to the lack of mobility and issues with alcohol.
“I’m paranoid when around people, it scares me to have my back turned to anyone. I’m desperate that these circumstances disappear and don’t last for the rest of my life.”
Emma Hillier, defending, said that, after taking offence at the remark, Gregory had tried to remove himself from the scene by using the upstairs bathroom but then lashed out when he returned and noticed that the victim was still in the house.
She added that he was “extremely remorseful for what happened as they had been friends for years” and pointed out that the defendant had not committed any other crimes since the night of the attack.
Gregory must carry out 160 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months and pay £300 in compensation to his victim along with £85 in court costs plus £95 to fund victim services.
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