Footballer who broke man’s jaw with punch spared jail
A FOOTBALL fan who broke another man’s jaw with a single punch after Wales’ Euro 2016 match with England has been spared jail.
Christopher George Saxon, 28, of Llys Tregeirian, Llangristiolus near Llangefni, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Sion Rhys Lewis.
He was handed a 14-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and must carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.
Saxon, a man of previous good character, who is a well-known semi-professional footballer, must also pay his teenage victim £750 compensation.
The court heard Saxon had pleaded guilty to the offence at an earlier hearing and appeared at Caer- narfon Crown Court for sentence.
Emmalyne Downing, prosecuting, said Saxon had been out with friends watching the football match on June 16 and had been drinking.
The group later went to the Market Vaults pub in Llangefni where he saw Mr Lewis.
“They had seen each other previously and Mr Lewis appeared to have something to say to the defendant, who initially ignored him,” the barrister said.
“But he then swung a punch at Mr Lewis, knocking him to the floor and injuring his jaw.”
Mr Lewis suffered a fractured jaw and needed surgical treatment, and the court heard he suffered “pain and discomfort” for several weeks after the incident.
The court was shown part of a CCTV recording of the incident.
Defence barrister Matthew Curtis urged the judge to consider a suspended sentence.
Sentencing Judge Peter Heywood said: “Sion Lewis appeared to have a bone to pick with you and you ignored him at first but you lost your temper momentarily.
“You swung a heavy blow and knocked him down.
“I regard you as a man of good character and you are spoken of very highly, but this is a serious offence and it crosses the custody threshold.”
The judge warned Saxon that failing to carry out the unpaid work would lead to him being brought back before the court and he could be jailed.