A man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for an assault that left Italian national Daniele Nardelli permanently disabled.

The attack occurred on 2 August 2015 at Club Plus One in Paceville, where Nardelli and a friend were spending the evening while on holiday.

According to Nardelli's testimony, the accused, 43-year-old Mark Dimech suddenly struck him in the face without provocation, causing him to fall and lose consciousness. When police arrived, they reportedly assumed Nardelli was drunk and left without investigating further.

Nardelli later sought medical help for heavy nose bleeding but was initially sent home. His condition worsened, and he returned to hospital complaining of facial pain and numbness in his legs. Tests revealed a fractured bone beneath his eye and a shifted spinal column compressing his spinal cord and bone marrow.

He underwent surgery in Italy, where doctors warned of possible paralysis. Although he survived, Nardelli was left with lasting impairments - difficulty walking, eating, and writing, as well as tremors and reduced function in his dominant hand. Medical experts determined he suffered a 25% permanent disability.

The court highlighted that a single, reckless act had devastated Nardelli's life, noting that before the assault he had been active, athletic, and even worked as a model - pursuits he can no longer follow.

In addition to the prison term, Dimech was handed a three-year restraining order prohibiting contact with Nardelli.

Lawyer Giannella Demarco represented Nardelli, and Magistrate Kevan Azzopardi presided over the case.