A man who knifed his girlfriend's ex in a drug and booze-fuelled confrontation at North Wollongong has been spared further jail time.
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Joseph Vervoort can remember little of the February 23 pre-dawn clash, which put his victim, Jared Woods, in the hospital for nine days with a 3cm stomach wound requiring surgery.
Vervoort and his partner had downed two bottles of scotch, some LSD and MDMA before returning to their home about 3.30am. Mr Woods - also "well intoxicated" - turned up unannounced soon afterwards and became "a smart-arse", the woman would later tell police.
At some stage, 23-year-old Vervoort entered the room armed with a knife and Woods felt "a poke" in his side, later realising he'd been stabbed.
Prosecutors have conceded they are unable to determine how events unfolded as the parties were drunk and Mr Woods has since died by suicide.
The injured Mr Woods left the house but returned with a friend, armed with a tyre lever and a golf club. They smashed windows of the home and Vervoort's car when he refused to come out.
Wollongong Local Court Magistrate Claire Girotto considered a statement by Mr Woods' mother as part of sentencing proceedings on Wednesday.
"I have read and acknowledge the victim impact statement written by Jacqueline Woods. I accept that Jared was significantly affected by this incident; he became self-conscious, hypervigilent and paranoid."
"Tragically, the victim died earlier this year. I cannot connect that death to the incident before me, but I do offer my condolences to the family."
Vervoort pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless wounding.
The magistrate noted his crime occurred at a time in his life "when he was going off the rails and not thinking straight", but that he had kicked his drug habit in the three months he spent in jail on remand, and complied with "onerous" bail conditions for five months after that.
"I'm told he is remorseful," she said.
"There are positive indications he will not re-offend, particularly if he remains [drug-free]."
He was sentenced to 15 months' jail, to be served in the community by way of intensive corrections order. He must also perform 200 hours of community service and was fined $2000.
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