A 150-KILOMETRE bottle shop run along the East Coast ended in brutal violence and a deliberately torched car, the Supreme Court in Launceston heard yesterday.
The court heard that in September 2011, Scott Cameron Parker, 38, had been drinking heavily with friends Robyn Rollo and Luke McDonald at Cornwall before they decided to drive to St Helens to drink and do some fishing.
All bottle shops were closed when they arrived at St Helens so the trio drove to Bicheno.
When that bottle shop was also found closed, they ventured further south to Swansea.
The court heard that Parker was behind the wheel and lost his temper 15 kilometres outside Swansea when Mr McDonald criticised his driving.
Parker halted the car using the handbrake and both men got out of the car.
Parker proceeded to punch Mr McDonald in the head and face, kicked and kneed him and stomped on his head.
When Ms Rollo stopped the attack, all three got back in the car, only for Ms Rollo to ask Parker to leave the car a short time later.
He responded by hitting her in the face with a beer bottle.
Ms Rollo and Mr McDonald then fled the car, which Parker set on fire.
The attack on Ms Rollo caused two lacerations, which required 14 stitches and left scars.
Mr McDonald's injuries included nose and cheek fractures and cuts and bruising on his face.
In sentencing, Chief Justice Ewan Crawford said Parker had previously been convicted of 15 assaults and five counts of destroying property.
Justice Crawford said Parker had committed three assaults since the September incident.
``He has many sentences of imprisonment arising out of violence,'' Justice Crawford said.
``He has been in and out of prison for the last 10 years.
``Unless he avoids abusing alcohol, there seems little prospect of change.''
Justice Crawford sentenced Parker to 18 months' jail with no parole.
