Trent Van Kempen, 20, of Toal Drive, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court this week to recklessly causing injury.

He was convicted and sentenced to a three-month prison term which was suspended for 12 months.

At 12.40am on March 8 last year Van Kempen was with friends at Warrnambool’s Artillery Crescent when he punched a man who was sitting in his car, causing the victim to suffer a blood nose.

Defended counsel Matt Senia said that between January and April last year his client “went off the rails” dealing with the death of his father and subsequent alcohol and mental health issues.

He said he faced court and received a 21-month jail sentence on 21 charges including assaults and causing damage and had to serve a minimum five months.

The minimum five months was extended until October 15 while Van Kempen found stable accommodation after his mother took out an intervention order against him.

He still has about 12 months to serve on parole. Mr Senia said it was not known why the current charge had not come to light and been dealt with as the same time as the other charges.

Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said this was another example of Van Kempen offending while he was out of control.

He was now being assisted by the parole board and Van Kempen now knew what it was like in prison.