Rugby star escapes jail for brawl

Booth admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm

A Welsh rugby star has escaped jail after attacking a man at a Bee Gees tribute night.

Wales A and Celtic Warriors prop Phil Booth had been told he faced prison after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm last October.

Booth, 27, attacked Ian Edwards after seeing him hit his 21-year-old sister Emma Booth at the Hi-Tide Inn in Porthcawl, south Wales.

At Cardiff Crown Court, Booth was ordered to pay £1,500 compensation to Mr Edwards, and £350 costs.

The former Bridgend and Llanelli star had admitted throwing punches "willy nilly" at Mr Edwards and hitting him several times in the face.

His sister's boyfriend Warren James, 32, of Nottingham, was also involved in the incident - he admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Edwards and actual bodily harm on another reveller Leslie Crole.

James was ordered to pay £1,500 to Mr Edwards, £500 to Mr Crole and £350 costs.

His game is a violent sport but he is a person with a good reputation rather than a bad one Stephen Jeary, defending Booth

Judge William Gaskell described the fight as "a disgraceful incident" and handed out a nine-month suspended jail term to Booth and a 12-month suspended term to James.

He said that he did not send both men to jail because of their "excellent characters" and because of "the behaviour of Ian Edwards in striking Emma Booth".

Prosecutor Richard Ace said Mr Edwards was punched and then kicked while on the floor.

"He suffered bruising to the arms, body and to the face. He suffered a fractured nose," he said.

Daniel Williams, defending James, said Mr Edwards' act of hitting Emma Booth was "mindless thuggery".

Stephen Jeary, who was defending Booth, said his client was an extremely large and powerful man, but was gentle.

"His game is a violent sport but he is a person with a good reputation rather than a bad one," he said.

"He has already made apologies to the man he hit."

Earlier this month, Booth's wife Rachel, 27, and sister Emma Booth, 22, were cleared of charges against them.

They agreed to be bound over to keep the peace for 12 months.