Andrew Thomas Sheehan: Simple questions leads to vicious Kiama glassing attack
A Friday night at the pub turned into a horrific event for one man who was left with permanent scars after an awful assault. Read about the shocking crime.
Illawarra Star
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A Shoalhaven Heads man who left a victim with permanent scars after a glassing attack at a popular Kiama watering hole will be sentenced later this year.
Andrew Thomas Sheehan, 40, appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday to plead guilty to reckless wounding dating back to October 15, 2021.
Sheehan and the male victim were enjoying a Friday evening at Kiama‘s Grand Hotel in separate sections of the main bar area.
At around 10.30pm, Sheehan nudged aside the victim to pick up some beers he had ordered with the victim questioning “Are you alright, mate?”.
Sheehan walked off as the victim leant over the bar to place his order, before the 40-year-old returned to collect the rest of his drinks.
“Are you okay?” the victim said after receiving another nudge with Sheehan barking back ”F*** off”.
The unexpected insult kicked off a verbal argument with Sheehan hurling a slur at the victim about being South African.
The victim headbutted Sheehan, who stumbled and dropped his drinks, and urged the bar staff to call security.
Sheehan returned a short time later, a glass of grog in each hand, and made a beeline for the victim who was standing at the bar.
The victim turned his head as Sheehan approached before he had the glasses smashed into each side of his face with blood splattering everywhere.
The victim crash tackled Sheehan to the ground with the pair separated by security as triple-0 was called.
The victim sustained bruising and swelling to his right eye and was rushed to Shellharbour Hospital with two jagged lacerations on either cheek with the wounds requiring a total of 20 stitches.
The man continued to suffer ongoing numbness to his cheeks with medical experts advising him he will experience sensory issues for six to nine months.
The scarring will also be permanent and they will take 12 to 18 months to mature.
Sheehan‘s bailed was continued and he will be sentenced in Wollongong Local Court in next month.
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