A TAMWORTH teenager who struck a man in the head with a brick and left him with a fractured skull has been jailed for 20 months.
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The now 18-year-old cannot be named because he was 17 at the time of the attack in Green Street in Coledale on April 23, last year.
The teenager and the man were just some of 40-odd people at a wild party out the front of a house, just after 1.30am.
The party got out of control and the teen picked up a brick and struck the 32-year-old man in the head.
Police were called and arrived to find dozens of party-goers out the front of the house and in the street.
According to medical records and statements from doctors, the 32-year-old suffered fractures to his skull as well as to two bones surrounding his eye, and a “deep irregular laceration” 10cm in length over the left side of his forehead.
Medical evidence tendered at a hearing in Tamworth Children’s Court showed doctors believed the injuries were “consistent with trauma from a blunt object”.
He was placed in an induced coma for his injuries and then airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle for specialist treatment.
The 32-year-old left hospital in the week following.
Detectives were called in because of the seriousness of the man’s injuries and dozens of people were questioned.
Blood stains in the grass at the front of the Green Street house were also photographed and a brick was seized.
Following investigations, detectives homed in on the teen on April 24 and he was arrested when police surrounded a Coledale house.
He was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and granted bail in court the following day.
The teenager pleaded not guilty to the charge and the court was initially told 35 witnesses would be called to give evidence.
The witness list was later revised and photographs, several statements including police and doctors were tendered in the hearing in Tamworth Children’s Court in November.
After considering all the evidence, magistrate Roger Prowse found the teenager guilty of the charge – which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.
Mr Prowse immediately revoked the teen’s bail – which he was granted following his arrest – and ordered him into custody.
The teen appeared in Tamworth Children’s Court this week where Mr Prowse jailed him for a total of 20 months for the violent attack.
He was ordered to serve 12 months in juvenile detention before he is eligible for parole in November.