A man who blinded his workmate with a dart at a Christmas party has been ordered to pay him £7,800 in compensation. Robert Gosling threw the arrow with force during a festive session at the Jolly Abbot in Newton Abbot.
It lodged just above the victim’s eyebrow and he was taken to hospital. As a result, the man lost sight in the eye and has been unable to go back to work. He told a court he will “forever be mentally and physically scarred” by what happened.
Gosling, 27, of Newton St Cyres, admitted causing grievous bodily harm. He was given a suspended sentence for 20 months with 300 hours of unpaid work.
The incident on December 21, 2023. Prosecutor Peter Coombe said a group of work colleagues had been out celebrating since breakfast. CCTV showed a large group of men playing pool, darts, drinking and standing around in the pub.
The victim was challenged by his boss to throw the dart in exchange for a 50p pay rise. Gosling warned the man that if he threw it at him he would fling it back harder.
Jolly Abbot (Google)
The victim did throw it but it landed harmlessly on a curtain. He had no intention of hitting anyone.
An angry Gosling launched it back overhand. The footage showed the victim reeling away holding his face as the dart lodged in his face. He was taken to hospital.
He has since had multiple appointments to treat two lacerations across the cornea and has been told he needs a cataract operation.
The victim told the court: “No sentence will be enough. I will have to live this for the rest of my life and it isn’t anything I imagined when I started adult life.”
He says he suffers nightmares and with PTSD and is unable to continue with his career or drive. “I have no real date to get my sight back ever,” he added.
Judge David Evans said it was a reckless act and the defendant clearly did not intend to cause the harm he did. “You are not a bad man but you did a terrible and foolish thing in anger which you genuinely regret and have regretted ever since.
“There is a little I can say to comfort the victim. The outsize consequences of your act are well expressed by him.” The judge criticised the delay in bringing the matter to court.