Footballer told to expect jail sentence (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Footballer told to expect jail sentence

A footballer who attacked a rival player during a match has been told to expect a jail sentence.

Nicholas Harrold punched Graham Hay in the mouth in a game between Broadway United and a Cookley Social FC, near Kidderminster.

The match at Broadway was in the second half when Harrold injured the home player on September 24 last year, Worcester Crown Court heard. Mr Hay suffered a split lip which required nine stitches.

Harrold, aged 31, of Birchfield Road, Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Hay and causing him actual bodily harm.

He told police that Mr Hay was behaving aggressively during the match.

But prosecutor Thomas Schofield said Harrold's perception of such conduct was not accepted.

Recorder Peter Cooke said it was a serious assault with the aggravating feature that it happened on the sporting field.

He said Harrold had a dreadful record for violence including four assaults, violent disorder and a racially aggravated offence.

Adjourning the case until May 12 for a pre-sentence report to be completed, the recorder told Harrold: "You must expect a prison sentence."