A Ballarat man has been sentenced to prison for a "vicious" hammer attack where the male victim suffered a neck fracture.
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Geoff Wetzel, 30, pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Wednesday after he was given a sentence indication.
Wetzel was accused of hitting the victim with the hammer during an altercation in Ballarat on January 8, last year.
The court was told witnesses saw Wetzel with the hammer in his hand.
The victim and two witnesses reported the incident at the Ballarat Police Station where officers told the victim to go to the Ballarat Base Hospital.
He underwent an x-ray of his right wrist and CT scans of his neck and face, which showed a minor fracture to his neck.
It's quite a vicious attack with a weapon.
- Magistrate Ron Saines
The victim was transported to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for further tests and treatment.
He had to wear a neck brace for six weeks.
Defence lawyer Adrian Lewin said Wetzel was sentenced to four years in prison with a non-parole period of two years and eight months in December for armed robbery.
On January 21 - two weeks after the hammer attack - Wetzel robbed a Ballarat East hair salon with a knife.
Mr Lewin said Wetzel could apply for parole in November, 2022, and he had National Disability Insurance Scheme support.
Magistrate Ron Saines told Wetzel it was quite a vicious attack with a weapon.
Wetzel was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with two months added to his current sentence.
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