A recruitment director seriously injured a rival football player with one punch.
Sam Dufosee previously pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and was sentenced at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Friday (15 September).
Prosecutor Kate Prince said that the defendant was playing for The Lodge FC when he attacked a Bradford Town FC player during a match at the Land Warfare Centre in Warminster.
During the incident on 28 January, the victim – a male in his late teens – sustained a broken jaw.
Defending, solicitor Andy Lee said there was a “heated atmosphere” and it was “not all one sided”, but added that his client “does not seek to place any blame on the victim”.
He said Dufosee “lost his temper” and that he is “deeply ashamed and disappointed in himself” – confirming that he has been attending privately-funded anger management sessions.
Mr Lee said that the defendant – who has been playing football since the age of five – had been struggling with “extreme pressures” in his home and work life.
He said that Dufosee’s wife had been suffering with a difficult pregnancy, there were financial difficulties having moved to a larger house when their baby was born, and he was “deprived of sleep”.
The 32-year-old of Prospect Close, Kaynsham, who has a previous conviction for affray, was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
During that period, he must complete 15 rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours of unpaid work. The victim was awarded £5,000 in compensation.
