Darren William McCarthy avoids jail after stabbing his roommate in the thigh with a steak knife

A reformed alcoholic who stabbed his roommate in an unprovoked drunken attack while they were watching the cricket has learned his fate in court for the violent outburst.

A former alcoholic who has since gone “cold turkey” has avoided jail after he stabbed his housemate in the leg with a steak knife, a court has heard.

The incident occurred after Darren William McCarthy, 52, became enraged when he was told to “go to bed for being too drunk while watching the cricket with his housemate”, the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court heard.

During the outburst, the victim was punched in the face and kicked in the chest - causing him to fall to the floor.

After getting back up and sitting back on the couch the victim felt “sudden sharp pain” before he saw the steak knife embedded in his left thigh.

A police prosecutor read out a brief victim impact statement to the court which revealed they were “suffering stress, anxiety and depression” as a result of the attack.

Darren William McCarthy has dodged jail after pleading guilty to stabbing a man with a steak knife. Picture: Arj Ganesan

The victim also stated they had “nightmares of being stabbed,” the court heard.

McCarthy continued to contact the victim after the attack despite a specified bail conditions prohibiting him to do so, the court heard.

Two days after the December 14, 2021 stabbing of the former housemate, McCarthy went to the home twice - prompting the victim to call triple-0.

McCarthy also called the victim on a landline in an attempt to apologise for the stabbing, which also constituted a breach of bail.

The Mount Gambier man pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault that causes harm with a weapon and three counts of failure to comply with bail.

Police prosecution said a term of imprisonment was the only suitable punishment, while McCarthy’s lawyer Jarrad Sim argued for a suspended sentence.

Mr Sim said the beginning of McCarthy’s trouble with the law began after he met an alcoholic Mount Gambier woman.

“As a result of the relationship, Mr McCarthy quickly found himself also having alcohol issues,” Mr Sim said.

McCarthy has since been abstinent from alcohol, quitting “cold turkey” in January 2022, Mr Sim said.

Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos said it would be inappropriate to hand down a suspended sentence given McCarthy’s previous history.

After a 30 per cent sentencing discount was applied McCarthy was handed a four-month and 17-day term of imprisonment.

However, Ms Kossiavelos ordered McCarthy serve his sentence on home detention because of his complex health issues.

McCarthy lives with multiple sclerosis and also suffers from cirrhosis and hepatitis C.