Swimmer Nick D’Arcy will be sentenced on March 27 for the assault on Simon Cowley.

D’Arcy, 21, appeared in a Sydney court again today where the Magistrate heard final sentencing submissions.

D’Arcy has pleaded guilty to recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm on Commonwealth Games gold medallist Cowley in a Sydney bar in March 2008.

His lawyer argued today D’Arcy should not go to jail because he had suffered enough by being “discarded from the Olympic Team”.

The AOC Executive terminated D’Arcy’s membership of the 2008 Australian Olympic Team following the assault on Cowley.

D’Arcy’s lawyer Richard Jankowski also claimed his client was the victim of “media harassment” and this should be considered when determining the punishment.

He said if a suspended sentence was imposed on the swimmer “this would be an axe hanging over his head” and would stop D’Arcy from re-offending Jankowski argued.

The Crown Prosecutor argued for period of imprisonment for D’Arcy. Magistrate John Favretto adjourned the matter till March 27 when he will determine D’Arcy’s punishment.

AOC