A WORCESTER footballer who punched an opponent during a match and fractured his jaw after a bout of “handbags at dawn” has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Jamie Insall, aged 20, of Lichfield Road, Ronkswood, Worcester, punched another player from behind, fracturing his jaw and leaving him needing two permanent metal plates in his jaw.

Insall was playing for Pershore Town in a match at Coventry Copswood on December 31 last year, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Jonathan Veasey-Pugh, prosecuting, said: The home team led 1-0 halfway through when one of the Pershore players put in a sliding tackle on Copswood’s Christopher Cheslin for a 50-50 ball.

The Pershore player was booked and Mr Cheslin squared up to him. The referee thought that Mr Cheslin had landed a headbutt in the face, although another witness said he thought it was more a case of “handbags at dawn”.

The referee showed Mr Cheslin a red card and a number of players went towards the incident. Insall ran at full speed past the referee and swung a punch at Mr Cheslin from behind, catching him on the right side of the jaw and knocking him onto his hands and knees. Mr Veasey-Pugh said it was the momentum of the run which caused the blow to land with such force. There was blood in Mr Cheslin’s mouth and two teeth were twisted.

Both players were sent off and Mr Cheslin later went to hospital.

He was operated on the following day and two permanent metal plates were put into his jaw. He also had four metal studs inserted to help keep his jaw shut while it healed and suffered loss of sensitivity around his mouth.

Insall, who pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, said he was acting in defence of his friend and did not think he had hit Mr Cheslin so hard.

Giles Nelson, defending, said Insall, who also played for Stourport Swifts and Kidderminster Harriers youth team, had been playing since the age of six. He had picked up a few cards but none for violence and was extremely remorseful.

He worked part time in a programme which takes him into schools and earned about £70 a week. He is about to become a father, Mr Nelson said.

Judge John Cavell said there was an increasing element of violence creeping into football matches.

He said Insall had acted in a reckless moment and his victim would have metal plates in his jaw for the rest of his life as a result.

He gave Insall a nine-month sentence suspended for two years with 250 hours of unpaid work in the community over the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £1,500 compensation to Mr Cheslin within a year.

  •  Worcestershire FA char-ged Insall with violent conduct and banned him from playing for three matches.

After the case, Chris Dale, discipline officer at the FA, said: “We had a report from the referee after the match and decided to charge him with violent conduct. We’re satisfied it has been dealt with properly.”