A FOOTBALLER narrowly avoided jail for fracturing an opposing player’s jaw during the closing minutes of a match.

Labourer Lee Toomey took to the field in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West match between Purton and Letcombe on Wednesday, April 15.

But the match, at Letcombe Regis near Wantage, got heated when Toomey’s Wiltshire side went behind and the 20-year-old was booked for shouting abuse at a linesman.

During the final 10 minutes, when Purton were 3-2 down, one of the Wiltshire team clashed with a rival player.

Cathy Olliver, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court that as referee Luke Peacock went over to deal with it he saw Toomey out of the corner of his eye.

She added: “He saw Lee Toomey walking with his fists clenched towards Jack Hamblin and punched him in the face. He saw Mr Hamblin fall straight on to his back without moving.”

Mr Hamblin was taken to hospital where doctors discovered his jaw was fractured.

After being rushed to surgery, a metal plate was inserted into his jaw, which Ms Olliver said will have to stay for the rest for his life.

Toomey admitted one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm at a hearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court in June, but was committed to crown court for sentence.

Defending Gareth James said Toomey, of Boscombe Road, Swindon, regretted his actions and called for a suspended sentence so his client could begin his bricklaying apprenticeship.

He added: “Mr Toomey feels a great deal of remorse. He is a young man who is working towards building a career for himself within the construction industry.”

Mr James told the court that Toomey had had a frustrating day at work and that there had been a lot of “sledging” during the game.

However, Judge Ian Pringle branded this excuse “nonsense”.

He added: “You clearly were angry and you walked up to a player from Letcombe, Jack Hamblin, and without any provocation you landed a full-blooded punch on his jaw. There are those who say when assaults are on the sports field it can be understood because it’s a heated situation. I think this is nonsense. Attacking someone on a sports field without any provocation is just as bad, or sometimes worse, as walking up to them in the street.

“I have no doubt that this case crosses the custody threshold.”

But Judge Pringle said that he could suspend Toomey’s 12-month prison sentence for a year because of three good character references who “spoke extremely highly” of him. He added: “Make sure this is your only ever time before a crown court.”

However, Toomey will have to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £358.88 in compensation.