http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/loca...0.footballer_jailed_for_elbowing_opponent.php
A footballer who elbowed an opponent in the face during a Sunday league match has been jailed for 15 months.
Asa Holman smashed his arm into the face of defender Robert Heald as the pair raced to the ball during a game at Pease Pottage.
Heald collapsed with a broken cheek bone caused by the sudden blow.
And today Holman, 28, was sent to prison for the violent assault.
When he was arrested after the game Holman told police: "You must be joking. It was not GBH, it was on a football pitch".
Lewes Crown Court heard Mr Heald was playing for the Millennium League 2000 side Orange Square while right winger Holman was playing for Pease Pottage FC during a game in April 2005.
As the two men chased after the ball Mr Heald was struck on the right cheek and had to be substituted.
The Orange Square manager Pat Hobden insisted Holman should be taken off or the match would be abandoned.
Mr Heald at first thought he had a black eye but later suffered headaches, numbness and loss of control of facial muscles.
At hospital he had a CT scan which revealed the fractured cheek as well as inter-cranial bleeding.
Previous hearings were told that Holman had been acting aggressively during the game and had been abusive towards the linesman.
Holman, of Thornhill Road, Southgate, Crawley, was arrested in March 2006 and ordered to report to police three times a week as part of his bail conditions.
But he got a friend to report for him on two occasions in April.
Holman admitted wounding and perverting the course of justice.
The court heard Holman was addicted to crack cocaine in 2005 but stopped taking the drug earlier this year when his girlfriend became pregnant.
Earlier hearings were told how this led Holman to "fear for his own safety and that of the public" if he left his own house.
Emma Reed, defending, said Holman did not intend to cause Heald serious injury.
She said: "He is remorseful."
Recorder Ian Wilson told Holman: "While it happened during a football match, nevertheless it was a criminal offence."
The chairman of Pease Pottage FC, Ryan Sallows, said the Sunday league club that Holman had been playing for was not associated with the Saturday league club of that name despite the fact they shared a pitch.
The Sunday side took the name because it shared Pease Pottage's ground but it no longer plays at the site.
A footballer who elbowed an opponent in the face during a Sunday league match has been jailed for 15 months.
Asa Holman smashed his arm into the face of defender Robert Heald as the pair raced to the ball during a game at Pease Pottage.
Heald collapsed with a broken cheek bone caused by the sudden blow.
And today Holman, 28, was sent to prison for the violent assault.
When he was arrested after the game Holman told police: "You must be joking. It was not GBH, it was on a football pitch".
Lewes Crown Court heard Mr Heald was playing for the Millennium League 2000 side Orange Square while right winger Holman was playing for Pease Pottage FC during a game in April 2005.
As the two men chased after the ball Mr Heald was struck on the right cheek and had to be substituted.
The Orange Square manager Pat Hobden insisted Holman should be taken off or the match would be abandoned.
Mr Heald at first thought he had a black eye but later suffered headaches, numbness and loss of control of facial muscles.
At hospital he had a CT scan which revealed the fractured cheek as well as inter-cranial bleeding.
Previous hearings were told that Holman had been acting aggressively during the game and had been abusive towards the linesman.
Holman, of Thornhill Road, Southgate, Crawley, was arrested in March 2006 and ordered to report to police three times a week as part of his bail conditions.
But he got a friend to report for him on two occasions in April.
Holman admitted wounding and perverting the course of justice.
The court heard Holman was addicted to crack cocaine in 2005 but stopped taking the drug earlier this year when his girlfriend became pregnant.
Earlier hearings were told how this led Holman to "fear for his own safety and that of the public" if he left his own house.
Emma Reed, defending, said Holman did not intend to cause Heald serious injury.
She said: "He is remorseful."
Recorder Ian Wilson told Holman: "While it happened during a football match, nevertheless it was a criminal offence."
The chairman of Pease Pottage FC, Ryan Sallows, said the Sunday league club that Holman had been playing for was not associated with the Saturday league club of that name despite the fact they shared a pitch.
The Sunday side took the name because it shared Pease Pottage's ground but it no longer plays at the site.
