A Clutha man who was supposed to be a caregiver for his ailing father punched him so hard he destroyed his false teeth, a court has heard.
The 79-year-old victim, who suffered lacerations and concussion, spent three days in hospital before being discharged but later had to return because of the severity of the injuries.
Jeremy David Eade, 47, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday where he was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment.
"Your behaviour was appalling, totally abusive of a vulnerable man, your father," Judge Jim Large said.
"You should have more respect for him."
Two months before the attack, Eade was driving in Port Chalmers when he hit a stationary vehicle.
After inspecting the damage, he drove away before abandoning his car and fleeing on foot with his dogs.
The court heard it was the ninth time Eade had been caught driving while disqualified.
Counsel Brendan Stephenson said his client had a variety of personal issues with which he was grappling at the time.
"Unfortunately, he dealt with that the wrong way," he said.
On October 21, last year, after a dispute over his dogs, Eade grabbed his father’s shirt and punched him in the jaw.
He then pushed the man on to the bed and told him he was going to burn the house down.
Eade threw a television on the floor and jumped on the screen, smashing it.
Police arrived after the defendant had left the area but they found evidence of other crimes during their search for him.
In a garden shed, Eade had erected two tents for growing cannabis, complete with fans, heat lamps and a supply of potting mix. Officers found 72 plants at various stages of maturity.
Judge Large accepted there were signs of drug dealing and he inferred the crop was for personal use.
Mr Stephenson accepted his client had convictions for violence but they were relatively dated.
"In his words, he just lost it," he said.
"He does have regret ... He’s totally ashamed about his behaviour on the day."
Eade planned to seek treatment for his longstanding mental health issues before seeking reconciliation with his father, the court heard.
As well as the jail term, the defendant was banned from driving for a year and a day, and ordered to pay $800 for the television.
A protection order was granted in favour of the victim.
