A FOOTBALLER who punched another player in the face during a game, knocking out three of his front teeth, was told by a judge such behaviour was unforgivable.
"Violence of this sort on the sports field is to be deplored," Judge James Stewart QC said as he passed sentence 27-year-old William Lowther.
Leeds Crown Court heard Lowther turned and struck Paul Harrington after he was fouled in a cup game last
October.
Mr Harrington was playing for Old Headingley FC while Lowther had stepped in at the last minute as "a ringer" for FC Dynamoes from Bradford when they were short.
Michael Smith, prosecuting, said it was about 70 minutes into the game at Stanningley, Leeds, after Lowther had come on as a substitute and was shielding the ball when he was approached by Mr Harrington.
"He kicked the ball from between the defendants legs and it seems clear from the evidence he made contact with the leg or knee causing him to stumble.
"A free kick was awarded to the defendant but following that he simply turned around and struck Mr Harrington in the face, knocking out three teeth."
Mr Smith said one of the teeth was recovered and efforts were made to save it but unfortunately that had not proved possible and following considerable treatment Mr Harrington lost a fourth tooth which had to be removed.
He still faces further dental treatment to have implants and now has to wear a bridge.
Lowther of Tennyson Road, Wyke, Bradford, who admitted assault, was given a 36-week prison sentence suspended for two years, with six months supervision.
Judge Stewart also ordered him to pay £1,750 compensation to his victim "although he deserves much more".
He said Lowther had one previous conviction for affray outside a nightclub suggesting a propensity for losing his temper.
Mr Smith told the court Lowther had run off when sent off and faced with irate players from the other team.
He was not registered to play for Dynamoes and had used a different name when he agreed to be a substitute, having originally gone along to watch friends play.
He had only been on the field about five minutes when the violence happened. He was traced through people who knew him at the club and the Facebook Internet site, handing himself in to police on December 23.
When interviewed he admitted the blow, claiming self-defence saying he thought he was going to be assaulted.
Ken Green, for Lowther, said he accepted it was a serious incident.
Mr Green said Lowther could not explain his behaviour that day. He had played football for years without a problem and had not been drinking prior to the match.
The referee described the two players as having a "football argument" meaning "the kind of confrontation you see on TV", but obviously this young man then "lost it".
He told the judge Lowther had apologised to the Dynamoes team on Facebook which had helped lead to him being traced. He had then received a letter from the police to which he responded.
Lowther had also already been banned by the amateur football association for playing amateur football for five years which was already a punishment.
"Clearly the victim has suffered serious injury and is quite rightly entitled to compensation."
He said Lowther had worked for eight years as a concrete floor layer for the same company travelling around the country, if he was jailed he would lose that job.
The judge heard Mr Harrington had applied to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board but would only hear about his claim after the case was concluded.
