Footballers’ vicious attack on opponent
TWO footballers launched a vicious attack on a young opponent after a last-minute goal saw their team lose a top-of-the-table clash, a court has heard.
Kerry Thomas Jones repeatedly punched the teenager in the face and broke his jaw, while Matthew John Hewlett joined in the assault and kicked the youngster as he lay helpless on the ground.
A judge branded the behaviour of both men as “absolutely disgraceful” - and referred to the old adage that “soccer is a gentleman’s game played by ruffians, and rugby is a ruffian’s game played by gentlemen”.
Swansea Crown Court heard violence flared in the final moments of a ill-tempered match between Ynysmeudwy and Bryncoch in April 2016.
Dyfed Thomas, prosecuting, said it was a top-of-the-table clash, with the winning side gaining promotion to the next division, and was described by those present as a “hard-fought match”.
Jones, the number nine for Ynysmeudwy, was said to have been bullying a young player from the opposition during the game, and following one tackle the 29-year-old threatened to “batter” his opponent if he did it again.
The court heard the game was tied at 1-1 going into the final minutes when Bryncoch scored a late winner, something which “incensed” the Ynysmeudy players and the home crown alike.
The prosecutor said Jones punched his victim seven or eight times to the face as he walked past, knocking him to the floor - he then continued to punch the teenager as he lay on the pitch. At that point 36-year-old Hewlett, the Ynysmeudwy goalkeeper, joined the assault, kicking the teenager in the face as he lay on the floor.
The court heard the referee then abandoned the match.
The young player was taken first to Neath Port Talbot Hospital, before being transferred to Morriston Hospital for specialist treatment
The victim suffered a broken jaw, and required surgery to fit a metal plate in his face. He was unable to work, could not eat solid foods for six weeks, and has been left with a lisp. In a victim impact statement read to court he said he used to have a passion for football but was now reluctant to play adding: “This has changed my life - it was just a game of football.”
Jones, of Hodgsons Road, Godre’rgraig in the Swansea Valley, had previously pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, and Hewlett, of Carreg yr Afon, Godre’rgraig, guilty to affray when they appeared in the dock together for sentencing.
The court heard Jones has a previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol, while Hewlett has previous convictions for burglary and harassment.
Ieuan Rees, for Jones, said his client was ashamed of his actions, and said testimonials handed to court showed he was “well thought-of in the community generally”.
The barrister added that Jones was now involved in coaching rather than playing football.
John Hipkin, for Hewlett, said his client - who works as a scenery-maker for a Skewen model railway company - was remorseful, and keen to pay compensation to his victim.
Judge Peter Heywood described the men’s behaviour as “absolutely disgraceful”, and told them they could not complain if they were sent to prison.
But he said it was clear from everything he had read about the men that they had acted out of character on the day in question, and after reading letters submitted on their behalf he was just able to pull back from imposing immediate terms of imprisonment.
The judge sentenced Jones to 20 months in prison, suspended for 24 months, and Hewlett to 12 months, suspended for 18 months. Each man will also have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, and pay their victim £1,500 compensation.