David John Jacobsen pleads guilty to causing grievous bodily harm

A Whitsunday man sucker punched a former workmate in the face, breaking his jaw resulting in the victim needing surgery. Find out what sparked it all.

A Whitsunday man has been jailed for sucker punching a former workmate in the face breaking his jaw in a drug-fuelled attack over a motorcycle.

The victim, 51, needed surgery to remove teeth and have plates and screws inserted.

Mackay District Court heard following the invasive surgery “half of his face is numb, he’s lost the enjoyment of eating and drinking, and feels like he is dribbling”.

On August 2, 2020 David John Jacobsen had gone to the victim’s Cannonvale address to pick up a motorcycle he was part-way through buying.

The bike belonged to their boss and Jacobsen had paid $2500, but still owed $1500.

The court heard the victim believed Jacobsen was drug affected and also because of the outstanding payment he did not want to hand over the bike.

David John Jacobsen punched a former workmate in the face breaking his jaw. Picture: iStock

Jacobsen was already in a bad mood. He had missed a flight to Brisbane to attend his dad’s funeral and he was also still grieving the death of his partner, who had not long lost her battle with cancer.

Now 43, he became aggressive and argumentative with the victim, who tried to calm him down and even called their boss before asking him to leave.

The court heard as Jacobsen was leaving some neighbours came over to see what was happening.

“You didn’t like this and you then turned back, (the victim) was behind you, and you punched him to the jaw … breaking his jaw,” Judge Jennifer Rosengren said.

The court head Jacobsen lied to police about his conduct and even claimed the victim’s jaw was not broken. He also lost his job.

Jacobsen pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, which has a maximum penalty of 14 years jail.

“It is very concerning that your assault on this occasion occurred in entirely unprovoked circumstances,” Judge Rosengren said.

But she accepted it was not his intention to attack the victim when he first went to his home.

The court heard Jacobsen, who worked as a delivery driver, had previously become addicted to opiates after a motorbike crash and even sourced them illegally.

He also tried to self medicate with marijuana.

The court heard he entered into a drug rehabilitation program and had since weaned himself off opiates and no longer uses amphetamines, but he still used marijuana.

Jacobsen was jailed for three years with parole release after 12 months. A conviction was recorded.