James Bodie jailed for horrific Wallaroo pub assault on AFL Grand Final Day in 2022

A man lost his ability to live independently after he was left with a traumatic head injury from a horrific Wallaroo pub attack on AFL Grand Final day.

A thug has left a fellow pub patron with a traumatic head injury after he punched his victim causing him to smash his head on a pole.

James Bodie, 28, was jailed after his victim lost the ability to live independently from the shocking AFL Grand Final day attack.

During sentencing, the District Court heard Bodie and the victim were both patrons at the Cornucopia Hotel in Wallaroo on September 24, 2022.

The court heard the victim approached Bodie and they had a brief exchange before he punched the victim to the right side of his head.

“The victim stumbled and you pushed him in the chest causing him to hit his head on a nearby pole as he fell to the ground,” Judge Anthony Allen said.

James Bodie was jailed over an assault at the Cornucopia Hotel in Wallaroo. Photo: Facebook

The attack was captured on CCTV footage which revealed the strike rendered the victim unconscious, with his legs buckling underneath him.

Bodie then left the pub and walked away.

“You acted without any real provocation, nor did you respond to any threat of danger,” Judge Allen said.

“What you did was inherently dangerous and is an affront to any patron socialising at licensed premises.”

The court heard the victim was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he was found to have suffered severe traumatic head injuries and a brain bleed.

The victim now suffers from short-term memory loss, balance issues, problems with concentration and a disturbed sleep pattern.

The court heard Bodie had consumed a significant quantity of alcohol at the time of the attack and had no recollection of the events.

Bodie pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious harm.

In his victim impact statement, the victim said he has been unable to return to work, resulting in financial stress and has lost his ability to live independently.

The court heard Bodie engaged in heaving drinking in the lead up to the offending after losing two family members in a short period of time.

The court heard Bodie, who was remorseful for the offending, had now ceased drinking alcohol and going to hotels.

Judge Allen sentenced Bodie to three years and one month jail, with a non-parole period of one year and eight months.

“Your offending is demonstrative of the catastrophic and ongoing adverse effects that single punch assaults can have,” he said.

Originally published as James Bodie jailed for horrific Wallaroo pub assault on AFL Grand Final Day in 2022