Branimir Lakic seriously injured his victim near Seven nightclub in Albert Road after the pair, who had been drinking, exchanged "heated words" at a taxi rank about 3am in June last year.

The County Court heard on Wednesday that Michael Harris was knocked to the ground and punched three of four times by Lakic who had attended a fundraiser at the nightclub for the Bosnian floods.

Prosecutor Jennifer Croxford said Lakic told police he had acted in self defence when Mr Harris became aggressive and took a "fighting stance".

Ms Croxford read aloud Mr Harris' victim impact statement in which he spoke of the "devastating" impact of the incident that had changed his life completely, the "unimaginable" pain from his face being "completely shattered" and sustaining depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder.

Along with the physical and psychological harm, he also said he had spent about $15,000 on treatment that included hypnotherapy and dentistry.

Lakic, of Ringwood, pleaded guilty in a magistrates court last March to a charge of recklessly causing serious injury and was jailed for three months with a 12 month community correction order (CCO) to start on his release with conditions that included 100 hours of unpaid work and treatment and rehabilitation.

He appealed that sentence on Wednesday to judge Philip Misso who was told that Lakic, who has no prior convictions, had committed an unplanned, stupid act after drinking that was a "massive error of judgment".

But defence barrister Philip Dunn QC also submitted that Lakic was not a drunken, stupid thug, but someone a psychologist found had an "exaggerated startled response" to something abrupt that he perceived as dangerous.

He was not, the psychologist reported, antisocial, had normal cognitive functioning and knew right from wrong.

Mr Dunn submitted in mitigation that Lakic had surrendered to police and made admissions despite knowing he was not legally obliged to and had entered an early guilty plea.

Mr Dunn also relied on last year's Court of Appeal judgment in Boulton - in which five judges advised that a CCO was a sentencing option to sometimes enable punishment in preference to  imprisonment - to argue that his client not immediately be jailed.

In her submissions, Ms Croxford said in such appeals the focus was mostly on the offender, but that it was highly significant the impact Lakic's offence had had on Mr Harris and that such early-morning violence occurred regularly.

Ms Croxford also said that there was not a defined breaking point in the Boulton judgment where jail was ruled either "in or out", but told judge Misso she did not object to a CCO for Lakic that was longer.

Judge Misso acknowledged that his decision not to impose an immediate prison sentence on Lakic may be regarded as "being a little too generous".

Judge Misso said he, like other judges of the court, was not sure where the "breaking point" was in relation to Bolton, CCOs and imprisonment.

He acknowledged the "devastating" impact on Mr Harris and that he would be left with a "very serious reminder of what you did to him", apparently while on the ground.

Judge Misso accepted that the "savagery" of his assault on Mr Harris was momentary, Lakic had admitted his guilt, surrendered to authorities and cooperated with them, was a man of previous good character and from character references was a " good person".

He increased the CCO to two years - with the same conditions - and increased the work component to 200 hours and also imposed a fine of $1500.