A footballer who was punched by another player during a match is to receive £5000 in injury compensation from his attacker.
In Chelmsford Crown Court it transpired that Rahul Jagota suffered a broken eye socket and cheekbone after being on the receiving end of a punch from Adam Shelton.
As a result of his injuries, Mr Jagota was off work for 18 months.
Shelton, 20, attacked Mr Jagota during the game, and in court admitted the charge of wounding.
The assault took place during a game held at the Bramston Sports Ground in Essex, which hosts non-professional league football matches.
Shelton, who lives in Humber Road in Witham, was given a suspended jail sentence in addition to the compensation order by Recorder Alastair Wilson QC.
In addition to the suspended sentence and the compensation, Shelton has been placed under curfew between the hours of 7pm and 5am, and has been banned from playing football at an organised level for five years.
He is now banned from attending the ground in Spinks Lane where the assault happened, and he has also been banned from Benton Hall gym for two years.
Mitigating for Shelton, Steven Levy told the court that his client had no previous convictions and thought the victim had actually assaulted him, and he had “totally misjudged the situation”.
Shelton was given 18 months to pay the criminal injury compensation to Mr Jagota.
