A FOOTBALL player and linesman who punched a rival in the face during a game and shattered his cheekbone avoided jail.

Brockworth Albion were losing during a crunch game with Lydbrook Athletic when linesman Sean Bennett, a former Slimbridge AFC player, was sent on as a substitute 10 minutes from the end and attacked an opposing player, Gloucester Crown Court was told on Monday, March 23.

Victim Byron Ranford, who was playing number four for Lydbrook, slumped to the ground spitting blood after the punch and then had to have surgery to fit three plates in his broken cheek. Nearly two years later he still suffers numbness in the face and other effects of the attack, the court heard.

Bennett, 26, of Bowthorpe drive, Brockworth, who two years ago was playing for Slimbridge AFC, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Ranford during the match on April 25, 2013.

The court was told he had been sent on at the end to use his class to try to snatch victory for Albion.

The court heard he had a previous conviction in 2009 for punching a 19 year old man at a party, causing him serious injury.

But Recorder Peter Towler said despite Bennett's record and the seriousness of the offence he was able to avoid imposing immediate imprisonment.

"Of course, violence of this kind in a football match, particularly one where there a number of children watching, is a serious matter," said the Recorder.

"That, and the nature of the incident, are aggravating features in this case.

"I accept that you are deeply remorseful. I have seen a letter you have written to Mr Ranford and his family. This is not in my judgement a case where it is necessary to send you straight to prison."

Bennett, whose father was murdered in Gloucester late in 2013, was sentenced to 12-months jail suspended for two years and placed under supervision for a year. He was also ordered to attend 30 sessions of a programme requirement and to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Recorder Towler ordered him to pay £500 costs but said he would not make any compensation order as Mr Ranford has already applied to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Prosecutor Simon Burns had told the court there were six bookings during the game - three on either side - before Bennett went on and committed the assault. One of those booked was Mr Ranford.

"The defendant went on as substitute and simply punched the victim hard in the face, causing him to stumble and kneel on the ground spitting blood," he said.

In a victim impact statement Mr Ranford, 28, said: "I have played only six games in the last 22 months. This was a malicious, cowardly act which sets a terrible example to young players of the game."

Sabhia Pathan, defending, said: "There had been some hostilities between players but it was never his intention to do any harm to Mr Ranford."

She said he was unemployed at the time but now has work and is to marry his fiancée next January.

"Rather tragically his father was murdered and this has weighed heavily on him for the last almost two years," she added.