Footballer’s jaw broken in cup tie confrontation (From York Press)

Footballer’s jaw broken in cup tie confrontation

10:13am Thursday 11th October 2012 in News By Megi Rychlikova, megi.rychlikova@thepress.co.uk

FOOTBALLERS faced each other across York Crown Court after one allegedly broke the other’s jaw during a local cup tie.

Both sides agree that Jody Lewis Haw, playing for the Dick Turpin pub, fouled Dan Hebditch, of Huntington WMC, by tackling him from behind in the fourth minute of stoppage time, when the score was 5-4 to the pub team.

Mr Hebditch told the jury that after he got up from the ground, he used abusive language to Haw.

Prosecution barrister David Hall said: “At that point, Haw punched him in the face. That created a crack which could be heard around the pitch and he broke his jaw in two places and knocked out a tooth.

“Haw walked off the pitch, saving the referee the trouble of sending him off.”

Haw claims he acted in reasonable self-defence because he believed Mr Hebditch was about to attack him. Mr Hebditch claimed he did not show any violence and denied defence suggestions he had clenched his fist.

Haw, 30, of Malvern Avenue, Acomb, York, denies causing grievous bodily harm.

Opening the prosecution, Mr Hall said Haw accepted punching Mr Hebditch during the match which started at 10.30am on Sunday October 30 last year on Knavesmire.

Mr Hall claimed: “This was a nasty attack and aggressive behaviour which is all too common in some games of football.”

Giving evidence, Mr Hebditch told the jury the match had been a “normal game” without arguments and Huntington WMC had never played the Dick Turpin before because they were in different divisions.

Mr Hebditch said: “Five minutes after the punch, Haw returned and said ‘sorry mate’.”

He agreed with defence suggestions that Haw had tried to contact him after the match and said he had refused to let his manager give the Dick Turpin player his number.

Mr Hebditch said: “I didn’t want to know what he wanted with me.”

The trial continues.