11th December, 2009, Brisbane, Australia

A DRUNKEN party guest who filled a sleeping fellow reveller’s ear with super glue in an act of “gross drunken stupidity” has been ordered to pay his victim $9000 in compensation.

Brisbane District Court Judge Terry Martin, SC, in a decision published today, ordered Ryan Laim Upton, 28, pay Ben Ferrett, 27, criminal compensation for the permanent partial hearing loss caused by the foolish prank on January 11, last year.

Upton inflicted the injury on Ferrett, who he had just met, when they attended a party at Greenslopes, on Brisbane’s sourthside. Judge Martin, in a written judgment, said Ferrett and Upton were both intoxicated when the “prank” occurred. “Having consumed a deal of alcohol (Ferrett) fell asleep on a couch in the living room,” he said. “By way of a prank, (Upton) and others applied super glue to (Ferrett’s) hand and glued it to his face. “(Upton) then poured super glue into (Ferrett’s) ear whilst (he) continued to sleep.” Upton pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court in late February to one count of grievous bodily harm.

The court was told one reveller had also used the super glue to pour it down Ferrett’s pants between his buttocks. When Ferrett woke up he felt a sharp pain in his ear and went to Wesley Hospital for treatment. Ferrett last required surgery several months later, at a personal cost of almost $6000.

Barrister Brad Farr, SC, for Upton, said his client was extremely remorseful for his actions and had repaid Ferrett all his medical expenses. Judge Terry Martin sentenced Upton to an 18-month, wholly suspended jail term. “It was an act of gross stupidity,” he said.

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Source: www.news.com.au/couriermail

Tags: 2009, Newspaper Articles