Lenny Foster, 41, pleaded guilty to the offence in the Alice Springs Supreme Court last week.

He was drunk when the assault took place at Karguru Camp in September last year.

The court heard it was early in the morning when he walked over to the victim’s house and began a conversation which turned into an argument and then a fight.

Foster struck the old man many times with a star picket, levelling blows to his body, arms and legs which broke several bones.

He then left the camp. At about 7am patrolling police saw him walking along Shamrock Street.

He had blood coming from a cut near his eye and asked police to drive him to the hospital, explaining to them: “That old bloke been giving me cheek so I been hit him and then he been stab me in the eye with that knife.”

Police drove Foster to Karguru Camp where they found the injured man at his home.

The victim had to be flown to Darwin for specialist treatment and still has to take medication for pain although he has no issues with his attacker now, telling the court Foster goes bush and brings him kangaroo.

Justice Stephen Southwood said he accepted Foster was genuinely remorseful for his conduct and had reconciled with his victim.

He said he believed Foster had reasonable prospects of rehabilitation.

He sentenced Foster to two years, three months imprisonment suspended after nine months and backdated to 24 March to reflect the time he has already spent in jail.