Ref attack footballer sentenced

Mr Yewen was also required to attend an anger management programme

A man who admitted assaulting a team mate and a referee in a Sunday league football game in the West Midlands has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Christopher Yewen, 25, launched his attack after he was sent off in a match in Tipton last November, West Bromwich magistrates heard.

He was ordered to pay £150 damages to the referee, Steven Durnall, £200 to the team mate, Christopher Lambert.

The HGV driver, from Tipton, cried as he was sentenced.

Yewen was sentenced to eight weeks for assaulting Mr Lambert and a further eight weeks for assaulting the referee.

Magistrates ruled that both sentences were to run concurrently and told Yewen that if he had succeeded in a bid to head butt the referee the sentence would have been harsher.

'Extremely abusive'

Yewen, 25, was shown a red card during a match between Tipton King's Arms and the Tipton Sports, the court heard.

Sarah Jackson, prosecuting, said he had been "extremely abusive" towards the referee during the game, believing him to be making decisions in favour of the opposition.

Yewen punched Mr Lambert as he left the pitch, causing a nosebleed, and later returned to the pitch and attempted to head butt the referee, but was held back by team-mates and did not make contact, magistrates heard.

After the game, Yewen waited outside the changing rooms for the referee and was held back by team mates for a second time.

Andrew Chowdhury, defending, said Yewen had punched his team mate after he came towards him with clenched fists, swearing and saying "look what you've done to the team now".

Yewen was also required to attend an anger management programme.