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Attacker narrowly averts jail term

Courier Mail
September 04

A FRUSTRATED business manager found himself in court yesterday after attacking a man who owed his firm a long-term debt.
    The District Court in Brisbane was told furniture removal company manager Keith Mclachlan had tried all avenues open to him to recover a $1500 debt owed to his firm for a job.
    Mclachlan made 20 personal visits to recover the debt and also went to the Small Claims Court but $1200 still remained outstanding when he saw the customer, 49, dining at a restaurant at Redcliffe, north of Brisbane.
    Prosecutor Matt Nathan detailed how Mclachlan went to the man’s table and a fracas resulted, in which McLachlan punched the man about the head causing facial fractures.
    Judge Brian Hoath said a jail term was almost always the sentence imposed for cases of grievous bodily harm but in rare circumstances those sentences could be wholly suspended.
    He said violence in public places was not condoned but McLachlan had many things in his favour.
Judge Hoath sentenced McLachlan to a wholly suspended 18 months jail.