Man pleads guilty to injuring birthday boy | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

A Masterton man whose 23rd birthday celebrations ended
with facial surgery after he was knocked out and had his jaw
broken in two places spent two months off solid food as he
overcame his injuries.

The man who attacked him _ John Richard McGregor, 38,
of Masterton _ yesterday pleaded guilty in  the Masterton District Court to injuring with
intent to injure.

The court heard that  about 1am on May 31, 2009, McGregor
had been at the Horse and Hound bar on Jackson St,
Masterton, at the same time his victim and his friends were
celebrating his birthday.

Staff asked the man to leave the bar following a minor
skirmish and McGregor followed him outside.

 

 

The man was held by his friend as he complained about
being kicked out of the bar as McGregor circled the pair.

 He then punched the man in the face, instantly knocking him
unconscious, breaking his jaw as he slumped to the ground
bleeding from the mouth.

McGregor walked away and the man was later taken to
Wellington Hospital where two steel plates were used to fuse his jaw back together.

Judge Stephen Harrop told McGregor his victim would
have the plates ``for the rest of his life''.

Judge Harrop described the negative impact the injuries had
had on the man's life, including two months without solid food,
four weeks off work and ongoing sensations in his jaw
because of nerves that had to be severed during surgery.

``This is a case that could have so easily resulted in a
manslaughter charge because just one punch could have been
enough.

``That sort of blow can cause death easily,'' Judge Harrop
said.

McGregor was sentenced to nine months home detention,
275 hours community service and ordered to pay $1000
in emotional harm reparation.