Thomas Spurgeon Nichols punched man in jaw, breaking it in two places

A mechanic has been sentenced to prison after a brutal act in a Surfers Paradise nightclub that left a man with his jaw broken in two places.

A MECHANIC punched a man so hard in the jaw it broke it in two places.

Why? Because he thought the victim was throwing ice cubes while in a Surfers Paradise nightclub.

The early morning one-punch attack in the Bedroom Lounge Bar on May 19 last year means Thomas Spurgeon Nichols will be in prison until just before Christmas.

The 43-year-old pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Wednesday to grievous bodily harm.

Judge Katherine McGinness sentenced him to two-and-a-half years prison to be released on parole on December 23.

The inside of the Bedroom Lounge Bar where the attack occurred.

“This was a significant blow to the complainant who was seated in the nightclub and it had a significant impact on him,” she said.

“Violence in the community and public has to be discouraged and members of the public must be protected.”

Crown prosecutor Gary Churchill said the 29-year-old victim was sober when he went to meet a friend at the Bedroom Lounge Bar about 1.30am to discuss picking up a computer.

He was having a non-alcoholic drink when a friend and Nichols was in a group nearby.

Nichols thought the victim’s group was throwing ice at him.

“(Nichols) approached and struck him with a right hook,” he said.

“He fell forward and his jaw was broken and mouth began to fill with blood.”

The court was told the man’s jaw was broken on the right side near the chin and on the left side near his ear.

Nichols was too intoxicated to be interviewed by police that night.

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“Whether (Nichols’) belief about the ice cubes was correct or not is immaterial,” Mr Churchill said.

“His reaction to that was quite premeditated and it was a significant blow which came as a surprise.”

Defence barrister Marty Longhurst said Nichols was in the nightclub celebrating his son’s 18th birthday party.

He said there was some animosity with the group which had been sitting where the victim was.

“It was a perceived slight, a brief conversation and a grossly disproportionate response,” he said.

Mr Longhurst tendered a letter of apology to the court.

He also said Nichols, a mechanic, had offered to pay $3000 in compensation. Judge McGinness said she would not order compensation because Nichols was serving time in prison.