An elderly man has been sentenced to two years in prison for attacking the owner of a holiday park in Tasmania's north-west in an act of "revenge".
Retired dentist Ian Mackenzie, 81, struck the owner of Wynyard's Beach Retreat Tourist Park on the head with a hammer three times in November last year.
Mackenzie had been living in a cabin at the park for 18 years but was angered by the park's owners, Cheryl and Graeme Gilmour, who had told him and other residents they would have to move out as the site was to be redeveloped.
In delivering her sentence, Justice Tamara Jago described a "planned, destructive and revengeful act" in which Mackenzie wanted to dent the skull of Mr Gilmour and burn the holiday park down.
When he went calling on the couple, it was Mrs Gilmour who answered the door.
Both Mr and Mrs Gilmour managed to escape, but Mackenzie set fire to the Gilmours' house, causing around $100,000 damage.
Mackenzie had previously pleaded guilty to wounding, aggravated burglary and arson.
Justice Jago told the court he had told police he was "mainly after Mr Gilmour and had been planning on hurting him".
"I'm told that when you were advised that you would have to relocate from the tourist park, you felt betrayed," she said.
She described his reaction as an "extremely disproportionate response".
She told court Mr and Mrs Gilmour had not only been affected physically but emotionally, financially, socially and psychologically.
Before the sentence, Defence lawyer Stephen Wright told the court Mackenzie was remorseful for his actions.
"He is aware he has caused harm and he is apologetic to any harm caused," he said.
The sentence was backdated to the date of the incident, and he will not be eligible for parole until he had served half his sentence.
