A man was told his actions against a taxi driver continued to affect the victim every day.
Raymond Thompson was appearing in Dannevirke District Court on Friday for sentencing over the assault which occurred in Palmerston North in March.
He was also charged with wilful damage and breach of bail.
Judge Keryn Broughton said the man had taken a taxi with another person and had asked to be dropped off at an address.
When the taxi stopped at the address, the driver asked him to pay $10 for his share, which Thompson refused to do.
The victim insisted on payment.
Thompson then threw him to the ground, striking him once in the right eye and kicking in the driver's door of the taxi.
A pair of prescription glasses were also damaged.
The victim received multiple fractures and underwent surgery in April to repair badly damaged nerves.
Judge Broughton said those injuries would take 18 months to heal.
She said the victim was unable to drive and had not gone back to work.
His wife had accepted a job up north and the couple had moved out of Palmerston North.
The victim impact statement said the man struggled to sleep at night and his wife was too fearful to allow him to return to work as a taxi driver.
Thompson had chosen to move to Dannevirke to get away from any antisocial behaviour and was highly motivated to change his ways.
His solicitor, Lisa Grant, told the judge he was keen to attend a residential programme.
He was sentenced to home detention for two months and told to abstain from alcohol and any non-prescription drugs.
He also was required to pay reparation of $300.
He will be subject to conditions over six months and would be supported to attend a rehabilitation programme.