A man accused of assault told police that he heard the victim's nose "crack like a piece of carrot when he hit it", the Supreme Court in Launceston heard.
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Geoffrey Colin Abbott, 49, of Scottsdale, pleaded guilty to the Criminal Code assault of Edward Cashion at Branxholm on October 20, 2019, by punching him to the face.
Crown prosecutor Virginia Jones said Abbott had been doing electrical work for Mr Cashion when his services were terminated.
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On the day of the assault, Abbott went to Mr Cashion's home to collect some tools and hand over a final bill.
She said that Mr Cashion was holding a shovel by a metal handle when the bill was handed over.
Ms Jones said Mr Cashion remarked that he wouldn't be paying because he had needed to get electricians from Launceston to finish off the work.
Mr Cashion told the accused to leave.
"The accused grabbed the metal bar that Mr Cashion was holding and tried to push Mr Cashion back and a push and shove occurred," Ms Jones said.
"He removed his right hand from the metal pole and hit Mr Cashion to the left side of the face."
Mr Cashion fell backwards and a third person called police and an ambulance which took him to the LGH.
He suffered a fractured orbit bone under his eye which required surgery to repair.
Abbott told police in an interview that he knew the punch had hurt Mr Cashion because he hit him square on the nose with his fist.
He told police that Ms Cashion's nose "cracked like a piece of carrot when he hit it".
Defence counsel Fran McCracken said Abbott got really angry and escalated the situation when he knew he should have walked away.
She said that the incident had caused rumours and problems for Abbott's wife in her work at a Scottsdale supermarket.
"He is remorseful and very sorry for the injury," she said.
Justice Robert Pearce said reading a victim impact statement had caused him to look at the impact of the injury in a different colour.
He said he would not sentence Abbott to an actual term of imprisonment but would have him assessed for community service.
Sentencing is on Wednesday at 4.15pm.