A man left an opponent with a fractured jaw when a fight broke out during a five-a-side football match, a court heard.
Craig Woodruff, 24, of Lliswerry Park Drive, Newport, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
The court heard how a fight had broken out when two football teams were playing against each other at the Gol football centre in Newport on January 11 this year.
Prosecutor Ieuan Morris said a verbal exchange took place between the defendant and another player Darryl Mawle after a “heavy” tackle which may have been a foul, which referee Jamie Collins awarded a free kick.
Her said a further heavy tackle came a few minutes later, resulting in pushing and shoving, which the complainant, Mitchell Green, intervened in to try and break up the “squabble”.
"Reckless assault"
“When he pulled then apart, that’s when the reckless assault took place”, Mr Morris said.
“The defendant was seen to raise his left arm with his fist clenched.”
He added that Woodruff, who has no previous convictions, had “recklessly caught” Mr Green.
The game was abandoned when Mr Green was knocked to the ground, then bent over with blood coming from his mouth.
The court was told that the defendant apologised at the scene, before emergency services arrived and the complainant was taken to Royal Gwent Hospital.
He required surgery to insert two plates on his jaw in two places, and could not eat solid food for six weeks.
"Deeply regrets the harm he has caused"
Heath Edwards, for the defence, said: “It’s a nasty injury, I accept that.
“He deeply regrets the harm he has caused to Mr Green as a result of what he did.
“This was a single blow. It was an isolated incident.”
The court had been told the defendant had intended to hit Darryl Mawle, but his punch had struck the complainant Mitchell Green instead, but the Judge Christopher Vosper QC said this was “unclear”.
Judge Vosper said that the man injured after the fight was the “peacemaker”.
“His view was that a punch was deliberately thrown at him when he came to intervene as peacemaker”
He added that the circumstances were “unclear”.
Woodruff was sentenced to 45 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity order for 10 days, complete 70 hours of unpaid work within one year, pay a surcharge and pay £2,500 in compensation to the complainant at £50 per week.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/footballer-fractured-opponents-jaw-five-11711052
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