Frederick Thomas claimed he was a changed man.

Before receiving a suspended prison sentence and fines totalling $1,400, 24-year-old Shannon Dwayne Julian Tucker yesterday told Magistrate Archibald Warner he was a changed man since the assault on Mr. Thomas on October 24, 1995.

"You'll see that I've changed my life,'' Tucker, of Broken Hill Lane, said.

"The company I have now are completely different.'' "I go from work to home to my children,'' he continued. "I was a completely different person then.'' Tucker added: "I believe what goes around comes around. Since the day after the incident with Mr. Thomas, I have been suffering.

"I know that's me getting back for what I have done. I've just waited so long for this to be over.'' For assaulting Mr. Thomas, Mr. Warner ordered Tucker to pay $1,000 and gave a suspended nine-month prison sentence for two years.

Tucker was also fined $250 and $150 for having two offensive weapons, a metal boat part and a bottle.

There was no penalty for a fourth charge of using offensive words.

The fines must be paid by October 8 or Tucker will face 90 days in prison for non-payment.

Mr. Warner told Tucker: "You could consider this your last chance. This gang violence has got to stop.'' Mr. Warner explained the only reason he would not jail Tucker was due to the length of time since the offence, adding: "That's the only thing in your favour against an immediate custodial sentence. I dealt with you in February.'' Tucker had spent more than an hour in a Police cell after Mr. Warner asked to see a conviction record which indicated that he had two convictions in February, 1999 and another in 1996 for assault.

Tucker was convicted by then-Magistrate Cheryl-Ann Mapp in July 1996 for the attack, but her decision was overturned by Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux.

Earlier this year the Court of Appeal overturned Mr. Justice Meerabux's decision, saying Mrs. Mapp's arguments for conviction were clear.

She found Tucker guilty of beating Mr. Thomas and throwing a bottle at him outside the Harrington Workmen's Club.

The club president, Mr. Thomas, testified he was punched and kicked by Tucker and had his head split open when the bottle and piece of metal were thrown at him.

Mr. Thomas said he had lost some vision in the attack which had started after he approached several youths about turning down a stereo system.

He said Tucker became abusive, spat at him and punched him in the mouth, and repeatedly hit him as he tried to get away.

Tucker denied this, saying Mr. Thomas verbally confronted him and grabbed him by the arm.

He told Mrs. Mapp the former boxer took the offensive and that friends threw the objects at the fleeing Mr. Thomas.