Neville Cleland, 37, could face up to seven years in jail after the prosecution argued in the Bendigo County Court this week that a lengthy jail period would be appropriate.

Cleland was 35 when he punched Mr Scott in the face while he lay limp on the ground.

Mr Scott, now 83, suffered three fractures to his left jaw and severe cuts and bruising to his face and neck when he was attacked at the scene of a minor car accident at the intersection of Eaglehawk and Marong Roads.

Following the attack Mr Scott told the court he was unable to eat solid food for weeks and had since handed in his driver’s licence and sold his car. He now relies on his wife, Jeanette, as a carer and driver.

During the trial in the Bendigo County Court last month, Cleland told the jury that Mr Scott had struck him first. He said the older man elbowed and then punched him, which caused him to react with three quick punches to Mr Scott’s head.

He pleaded not guilty by way of self-defence.

Mr Scott denied hitting Cleland, saying he had never hit another man in his whole life, let alone someone half his age.

The jury found Cleland guilty of intentionally causing serious injury.

Cleland, who is in custody, has a history of violence on the roads, including convictions for recklessly causing serious injury, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, driving a motor car in a manner dangerous to the public and failing to stop. He will be sentenced next week in Melbourne.

The prosecution has called for a five to seven-year term with a non-parole period of three to five years.