Pub punch up victim suffers ongoing health problems

A punch up in a pub between two men who were friends for 30 years left one suffering long-term health problems.

Grant Benseman, 54, and the victim, were both at the Woodbourne Tavern in Renwick on July 16 this year.

There had been some bad blood between the pair, and they were sitting apart, having arrived separately.

But it soon turned nasty, with the victim being punched so hard his head smashed through a window.

Appearing at Blenheim District Court on Monday, Benseman’s lawyer Rob Harrison told Judge Garry Barkle the victim had been spreading rumours about his client over the last year.

“The complainant had been making comments suggesting that he [Grant] had been ripping off the tavern by getting cheap drinks.

“Out of the blue, he made a derogatory comment towards him [Bensemann].

“He thought about it for a couple of minutes and went over.”

Benseman started to attack the man and punched him five times around the head after he had fallen to the floor.

The victim needed hospital treatment for concussion and suffers on-going dizziness. He also sees an osteopath regular, the full cost of which is not wholly covered by ACC.

It is the first offence involving violence for Benseman who was charged with common assault and said he regrated his actions.

In the summary of facts, the court heard how Benseman, a bulldozer operator, had been under stress at the time of the incident.

He had suffered three hernias and was buying and selling a property.

“He was under significant stress … but that does not justify what took place,” Harrison said.

Benseman offered to pay an emotional harm payment of $200 to the victim but Judge Barkle said it was not enough, especially given the psychological impact on the victim.

“The summary of facts indicates this was not insignificant in the sense of the assault itself.

“There are no convictions of this nature in your past and as a mature man, you deserve credit for that.

“A financial penalty is okay but $200 is not adequate.”

Judge Barkle recorded the charge and conviction, ordering Benseman to pay $500.