Nathaniel Kerr's brutal tackle on Stuart Parsons left him needing a pin in his ankle and extensive surgery to repair the damage done to him.
Both men were playing in a Sunday league match in August 2014 when Kerr lunged in two-footed on Parsons, "like an athlete doing a long jump".
The incident occurred moments after Kerr had gotten in an altercation with a team-mate of Parsons. After he made the challenge, he turned to that individual and shouted "I've done this because of you".
Kerr previously played football at a reasonably high level, having been involved with Crewe Alexandra and Rotherham United in his younger days, but was togging out for the Longsight pub side on the day, to face Parsons' team Emigration.
It was also alleged that Kerr continued to abuse Parsons after the tackle, shouting "get up you soft c***". He was sent off and the game was abandoned as an air ambulance had to be called to assist the stricken player who needed extensive reconstructive surgery, including a pin and a plate in his ankle, which meant that he spent several weeks in hospital recovering and will never play football again.
Andew Scott, the lawyer who defended Kerr, said "he accepts he assaulted Mr Parsons. It is being suggested he went out onto to that field to injure someone, that is simply not the case. It is a shame that it is because of his actions in a game which has been such an integral part of his life, and which he has grown up loving, that he finds himself in this situation. It is with no disrespect to the complainant that I say this has also had a great impact on him".
Former Droylsden defender Nathaniel Kerr jailed for a year after an intentional horror tackle http://t.co/LQwrRrkh98 pic.twitter.com/iELHjUDrMO
— NonLeaguePaper (@NonLeaguePaper) October 1, 2015
Kerr was charged with wounding with intent, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful wounding/inflicting grievous body harm.
In sentencing, judge Stuart Driver QC said "we are talking about an assault where one man flew through the air and stamped both of his feet on another man’s leg, intentionally, albeit in the heat of the moment, causing him serious injury".
Investigating officer PC Louise Spence said "Kerr has shown absolutely no remorse for his vicious attack, calling the victim a wimp and verbally abusing him as he was lying in agony on the pitch. The subsequent investigation and conviction into this assault demonstrates that this kind of aggression and thuggery during sporting fixtures will not be tolerated "
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Parsons talked about the pain of the injury and the struggles he went through since the assault took place.
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