Footballer first to be jailed for on-field tackle

Published: 2:09PM GMT 04 March 2010

Terry Johnson, left, will never fool around football again after Mark Chapman"s abhorrence plunge in to Photo: CATERS

Centre brazen Mark Chapman, 20, tackled left behind Terry Johnson, 26, from behind, violation his leg in dual places and finale his chances of ever personification again.

The plunge in to came seconds prior to the last alarm as Chapman"s group Long Lawford were losing 3-1 to Mr Johnson"s Wheeltappers side.

Rafael Benitez smoke at Liverpools funny pretension competition reversal Giant-killers Havant and Waterlooville behind in initial turn of the FA Cup opposite Brentford Football group arrested for sauce as nuns will never dont think about Crete distress Chelsea midfielders Michael Ballack and Michael Essien boot Barcelona?s moans Wakefield youngster dies in haven compare

Chapman was locked up for 6 months after revelation Grevious Bodily Harm at Warwick Crown Court on Wednesday.

Mr Johnson said: "It"s busted my life, I will never be means to fool around football again."

Mr Johnson indispensable reconstructive surgery and contingency have a skin swindle after the plea during a Rugby and District Sunday joining compare in Rugby, Warks.

A steel rod was put in to his leg to hold the bone pieces together.

Since the plunge in to the electrician has been incompetent to work and struggled to await daughters Ruby, four, Eliza, three, or partner Lydia Adams, 24.

Warwick Crown Court listened how Chapman, of Long Lawford, Rugby, tackled Mr Johnson studs-first during the compare last October.

Iain Willis, prosecuting, pronounced Chapman had been criticised by his teamates progressing on in the compare for display a miss of effort.

He added: "The turn was using out of fool around in the Wheeltappers" half and Terry Johnson was shadowing it out of fool around as it crossed the touchline.

"The suspect one after another to close in and used a stamping suit with a lifted right foot, with the studs showing, on the behind and side of his right leg.

"The arbitrate pronounced it was a cruel counsel action with vigilant to means damage to the player."

The justice was told Chapman had no prior convictions, but had been trained a series of times for his poise on representation - nonetheless not for aroused conduct.

Lawrence Watts, defending, pronounced injuries similar to Mr Johnson"s were infrequently caused by the point of view rather than the force.

He additionally attempted to pull parallels with a plunge in to during the Stoke City vs Arsenal diversion last Saturday where Arsenal"s Aaron Ramsey pennyless his leg after a tackle.

But Judge Robert Orme deserted the idea and pronounced it was a all opposite situation.

He said: "This is a counsel act, a conscious act. A football compare gives nobody any forgive to lift out vulgar violence.

"What I am rebuilt to accept is that it was a utterly funny and insane plea committed on the coax of the moment.

"The outcome of what you did was that Mr Johnson suffered a really bad damaged leg - it frightened those who saw it.

"I accept you showed really early distress and there is estimable slackening that can be put brazen for you.

"But I have additionally had to cruise the on all sides of the plant and your really counsel rapist act."

In the past footballers have been punished by the courts for on-field violence, but never locked up for a tackle.

One box involves stream Sky News pundit Chris Kamara, who afterwards as a Swindon Town player, held Shrewsbury Town"s Jim Melrose with his elbow.

Kamara was fined �1,200 for causing disgusting corporeal mistreat and additionally systematic to compensate �250 compensation.

On Nov 11, 2006, during an FA Cup initial turn compare Barrow defender James Cotterill punched Bristol Rovers striker Sean Rigg in the face.

On Jan eleven 2007 Cotteril was locked up for 4 months after pleading guilty to causing disgusting corporeal harm.

Vinnie Bolina, orator for the Crown Prosecution Service, pronounced cases similar to Chapman"s were formidable to prosecute.

He said: "We contend that this was a cruel and conscious action and was utterly deliberate."

A orator for the Football Association reliable that the box was unique.

He said: "It"s the initial time any one has been sent to jail for a tackle.

"There have been dual cases where people were sent to jail for alternative incidents on the pitch, but zero similar to this."