Tow-truck driver faces jail for assault
The victim of a vicious assault at a popular Perth nightspot says he feels lucky he did not become another one-punch death statistic, after his attacker admitted his guilt.
Peter Bond was enjoying drinks at Tiger Lil’s on his stepson’s bucks night last September, when he was punched repeatedly by Bart Gola and an associate, leaving him with a serious eye injury and stitches inside and outside his mouth.
In Perth Magistrate’s Court today, Gola pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in September last year, but denied causing all the injuries suffered by Mr Bond.
The tow-truck driver claimed he had reacted to derogatory remarks Mr Bond had directed towards female friends, and the main damage was caused by the other attacker, who has never been charged.
After giving evidence, and seeing CCTV footage of the night he was attacked played in court, Mr Bond said he was still suffering from the attack - but admits the repercussions could have been a lot worse.
“It has been extremely traumatic, lots of nights reliving the event – and there was six months there where I could not eat solid food,” Mr Bond said.
“I have got a thick skull so I did not die, but enough is enough.”
Magistrate Richard Bailey warned Gola he was facing the possibility of a jail term, describing the assault as serious, unprovoked, and sustained.
Gola will be sentenced next month.
