Chase Dungay guilty at Coffs Harbour court of reckless wounding

A former Toormina Hotel bistro manager is full of regret after throwing a spirit glass which sliced open a pool player.

Chase Dungay (right) leaves Coffs Harbour court on June 28 after he was convicted on a reckless wounding charge after an incident at the Toormina Hotel.

A former Toormina Hotel worker had a forgettable night at his old pub when an argument about a pool game ended with a man being cut open by a thrown spirit glass.

Coffs Harbour Local Court heard on Wednesday that Chase Dungay was a former bistro manager at the hotel, and had consumed 19 free or discounted drinks at the venue on the night of April 20.

Things turned sour when Dungay moved to the games room just before midnight and was watching the victim - who was not known to him - playing pool.

The pair struck up a conversation, but it “degenerated into an argument”, police facts state.

Dungay threw a seven ounce spirit glass toward the man, which hit him on the side of the head, leaving a deep cut.

Dungay eventually left the area after trying to re-enter the pub, police facts state.

Security staff intervened and pushed Dungay out the doors, but he lingered by the front gates, and acted aggressively toward the bouncers and the hotel manager.

He eventually left the scene, while police were called and the victim was taken to hospital.

The court heard Dungay was a former bistro manager at the hotel, but had since found employment at a Coffs Harbour restaurant.

About 11am the next day Dungay voluntarily attended Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was arrested.

His lawyer Katie Murphy said the 24-year-old had no criminal history, and the incident had caused him “significant regret and shame”.

Dungay has received a 12-month community correction order for reckless wounding.

Ms Murphy asked if the court in sentencing might consider a conditional release order, which was opposed by police prosecutor Heidi Warren.

Magistrate Julia Virgo said intoxicated young men involved in acts of violence was “a depressingly familiar occurrence” in Coffs Harbour.

Ms Virgo said if she had consumed 19 alcoholic drinks in a session she would in all probability “be dead”.

She noted Dungay had no recollection of the incident, but cautioned “it could have been significantly worse”.

The court heard Dungay was now co-operating with police on a responsible service of alcohol (RSA) inquiry stemming from the night.

Dungay pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless wounding, and was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month community correction order with supervision.

He was also fined $500.