Victor’s Place neighbour Jason McConnon pleads guilty to slapping winemaker Alan Varney

An award-winning SA winemaker was slapped in the face with an “open palm” during lunch service at his Old Noarlunga restaurant, a court has heard.

Varney Wines winemaker Alan Varney was slapped by his neighbour Jason McConnon. Seen here with his wife Kathrin at their winery, cellar door and restaurant Victor's Place. Picture: Tom Huntley

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A longstanding neighbour dispute involving Old Noarlunga winemaker Alan Varney came to a head when a man walked into a restaurant and slapped him in the face, a court has heard.

The Varney Wines owner was struck in the face by neighbour Jason John Joseph McConnon in the dining room of his Victor’s Place restaurant last month.

McConnon pleaded guilty to the August 13 assault, which occurred during lunch service, in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court last week.

A police prosecutor said there had been ongoing issues between Mr Varney and McConnon, whose property shares a boundary with Victor’s Place.

“(Mr Varney) was sitting in the dining room of Victor’s Place when the defendant walked inside the building and towards the victim,” he said.

Varney Wines winemaker Alan Varney and his wife Kathrin at their winery, cellar door and restaurant Victor's Place. Picture: Tom Huntley

“He was angry, stating that the victim would pay for what he had done and was pointing his index finger towards the victim’s face.

“A short time later he slapped him with an open palm to the right side of the face before leaving.”

Police were called but did not arrest McConnon until two weeks later when they were called to another dispute at the restaurant.

McConnon told the court the neighbours had been on good terms until Mr Varney lodged plans to develop the restaurant site.

“It was very friendly in the beginning but once they got the approval to do the development, things started to deteriorate,” he said.

“He called the council on me about my dog a number of times and he did it again that day and that’s kind of what pushed me over the edge.”

Magistrate Susan O’Connor told McConnon to set up his property so he would “see and hear as little as possible”.

“I think it’s absolutely understandable that this was a bad thing to happen to you that somebody developed right next to you,” she said.

“You’ve got like a country property … now you’ve got cars coming and going you’ve got someone who’s running a business, it’s something that you are alert to.

“I take into account that this is completely out of character, he’s very remorseful, that it was not a hard or malicious slap, although it’s disgraceful and inappropriate it was out of frustration.”

McConnon was ordered to serve a two-year $500 good behaviour bond.

No conviction was recorded.