Player broke man's jaw in row

A Shropshire footballer who broke another player's jaw during an argument over a late tackle has been given a 10-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

Andrew Coultas, of Sunnyside Road, Ketley Bank, Telford, admitted punching David Smith on January 28 during a Sunday match.

Mr Smith needed an operation to secure two metal plates in his jaw and is still not fully recovered.

Coultas, 24, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for 18 months, 150 hours of unpaid work in the community, ordered to pay £1,250 costs and £750 compensation, and placed under a curfew order from 7pm until 6am for three months.

He has also been punished by the Shropshire Football Association and received a one-match suspension following the altercation.

Sentencing Coultas at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday, Judge Robin Onions said: "During the course of the game there was a disagreement between you and the complainant.

"It was about a late challenge, but it doesn't matter exactly what it was about - it was the kind of thing that commonly happens in games. You just get up and carry on.

"But that was not the end of the incident. You thought you were going to be struck and you got your blow in first. You have had some experience with boxing and you know how to punch. The result was a fracture to the jaw in two places."

Mr Gwynn Price-Rowlands, for Coultas, said that he had not intended to inflict such a serious injury.

"Perhaps because of his boxing training he inflicted more damage than he would otherwise and he hopes his victim makes a full and quick recovery," Mr Price-Rowlands said.

Coultas, who has a previous conviction for affray in Winchester five years ago, was warned by the judge that if he could not control his aggression he would soon find himself in prison.

"The essence of football is controlled aggression," he said. "Uncontrolled aggression has no place on the football pitch."

By Pam Griffin