Jay Daniel Sheather sprays teenage bar worker with disinfectant

A teenager couldn’t open his eye and missed several days of school and crucial Year 12 exams after a 37-year-old Sunshine Coast man sprayed him in the eye with disinfectant.

A teenage glassy missed Year 12 exams and was in excruciating pain after a 37-year-old Glasshouse Mountains business owner sprayed him in the eye with disinfectant.

Jay Daniel Sheather escaped a conviction after pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in Caloundra Magistrates Court.

Police prosecutor Stephen Potter said the 37-year-old’s victim was working at the Landsborough Hotel on the evening of September 4 when Sheather assaulted them.

The court heard the bar employee was filling the glass dishwasher when he felt a liquid being sprayed into his eye, which began to sting.

He was assisted by his manager who had to flush his eye out before he was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Sergeant Potter said footage from the hotel revealed Sheather had grabbed a spray bottle of disinfectant and sprayed it into the glassy’s face.

When interviewed by police the 37-year-old said he was drunk that evening and couldn’t remember the incident.

According to the victim he missed an entire week of school and Year 12 block exams, along with four days of work.

Sergeant Potter said the teenager couldn’t open his eye after the attack and was in excruciating pain.

The court heard the pest control business owner was known by the hotel, and was asked to not return.

Magistrate Catherine Benson acknowledged Sheather was drinking at the time and she said the 37-year-old was probably trying to “be funny”.

Sheather was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and ordered to pay $500 compensation to the victim.

He was also banned from the Landsborough Hotel for 12 months.

No conviction was recorded.