A 30-year-old man who repeatedly punched a woman in the head during a confrontation in a Didsbury residence a year ago has been ordered to complete community service hours.The accused pleaded guilty in Didsbury provincial court on Wednesday to charges of assault and mischief. He was scheduled to be tried on the charges but changed his plea.The accused and the victim, who are acquaintances, were at a house party on Feb. 27, 2011 when the accused struck the woman several times, court heard.During the confrontation, the accused also damaged a stove in the residence, causing $729 damage.The accused admitted that he had been drinking alcohol prior to the confrontation.“Obviously alcohol is a problem for him,” prosecutor Doug Simpson told Judge E. J. Creighton.The accused's lawyer said after the woman was punched she struck the accused several times on the head with a beer bottle.“It was really a wakeup call for me,” the accused told the judge.In passing sentence, Judge Creighton said: “Assaulting someone, and especially a woman, is totally unacceptable. Alcohol is a demon that a lot of people cannot get rid of. Hopefully you'll never have to come back to court.”The judge placed Jason Hanson, 30, on probation for one year, ordered him to pay $729 restitution, and ordered him to complete 50 hours of community service.
