TORONTO - Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher says he'll likely never recover from an on stage attack from behind in Toronto that left him feeling like he "had been hit by a bus."

Gallagher was pushed from behind and thrown into his speakers in mid-song at a music festival in September 2008. The incident, despite months of rehabilitation and doses of pain killers, has left him with ongoing pain that he is forced to "grin and bear," he said.

"From time to time I still feel painful twinges," Gallagher said in a victim impact statement read in court Tuesday.

"I have been told that I will never really recover from the damage to my ribs."

The guitarist's words came at a sentencing hearing for his attacker, Daniel Sullivan, 48, of Pickering, Ont. Gallagher did not attend the hearing -- although he had planned to at one point -- so the statement was read by Crown attorney Ruth Kleinhenz-Neilson.

Sullivan, who pleaded guilty to causing bodily harm, admitted he was drunk and couldn't remember how he got backstage at the Virgin Music Festival.

The combination of daily stress, alcohol and keeping a business afloat during a recession led to the "pot to boil over," said defence lawyer John Collins as he tried to explain why Sullivan shoved Gallagher.

In videos taken by fans that went viral on YouTube, Sullivan is seen storming the stage from behind and pushing Gallagher in to his floor monitors while the band performed their 1995 hit "(What's the Story) Morning Glory."

A flailing Sullivan is then tackled by security guards as he approaches Gallagher's younger brother, singer Liam.

"I would describe the sudden impact and shock as feeling as if I had been hit by a bus," Gallagher said in his statement.

"I ended up in a heap on the floor."

Gallagher suffered three broken ribs and the band was forced to cancel concerts in Paris and New York, among other cities.

"The promotional work in connection with the launch of the new album was very important to its success and early sales momentum. This opportunity was lost," Gallagher said as he described the impact of the missed appearances.

"The emotional impact it had on me was essentially coping with the pressure to perform so as not to let the band down."

Gallagher has also launched a $2-million civil lawsuit against Sullivan.

In addition to a string of hits in the '90s the band is also known for the bickering between the Gallagher brothers. The remaining members disbanded earlier this year after Noel left the band last August after an altercation with Liam.

While the incident in Toronto is unrelated, some outside the courtroom speculated that attack probably strained relationships in the band.

"I personally think that this incident is responsible for Oasis breaking up because of all the momentum that was lost," said Paul Benoit, who was working as a caterer at the festival the night of the attack.

In court, Kleinhenz-Neilson said Gallagher was attacked in a co-ordinated, intentional manner.

The Crown is seeking a sentence of six to eight months in jail. Kleinhenz-Neilson suggested Sullivan, an amateur actor, had perhaps been seeking his 15 minutes of fame.

"Common sense says if someone is very drunk they do not have the capability to do this," said Kleinhenz-Neilson, arguing Sullivan had the wherewithal to climb through a tiny gap in the stage between speakers in order to attack Gallagher.

Sullivan, wearing a dark suit, was mostly expressionless as the Crown and defence made their sentencing submissions.

Collins said his client, a father of three, is a "good man who has made one bad mistake in an otherwise exemplary, law-abiding life." He asked for a conditional sentence, meaning no jail time.

Neighbours wrote letters to the court, standing by Sullivan and calling him a man of character. Sullivan even wrote an apology letter to Gallagher, which was read out in court.

Collins said Sullivan's family has already faced unrelenting tabloid scrutiny, and humiliation, as well as death threats from irate fans, which have been posted on the Internet.

The original sentencing for the assault was adjourned in February because Gallagher had indicated he wanted to deliver a victim impact statement in person. But Gallagher's schedule didn't permit him to attend Tuesday's sentencing.

The judge delayed the sentencing again, until April 21, to review the submissions.