NATHANIEL KERR, who played for a number of Non-League sides, has been jailed for a year after an intentional horror tackle in a Sunday League game.
Kerr, also known as Natt, most recently played for Droylsden at the end of last season but has also turned out for FC Halifax Town, Northwich Victoria, Ashton United and Barrow. He started his career at Crewe Alexandra and played three times in the Football League for Rotherham.
The 27-year-old is now behind bars, however, after he broke an opponent's leg following a two-footed lunge which a judge described as “serious assault”.
He was playing for Manchester Sunday side AFC Gold Cup when he attacked Stuart Parsons just two minutes into the first game of the season on August 30 last year.
Kerr, a dad of one, was said to be riled up after an earlier foul on one of his team-mates and after losing control of the ball he jumped “like an athlete doing a long jump” and stamped on Parsons' leg.
He abused the victim after the challenge and shouted “get up you soft c**t”, before telling the man who committed the original foul “I did this because of you”.
The match was abandoned and an air ambulance came to Parsons' aid before he spent two weeks in hospital and required months of physiotherapy. The window cleaner, 30, also saw his business fold, Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Defender Kerr was arrested several weeks after the incident and charged with wounding with intent. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm.
Judge Stuart Driver QC said he had no option but to send Kerr, who had previous convictions for violence, to prison for the harm caused.
“Let's make it clear what we are talking about here,” he said. “This wasn't a late or misjudged tackle in a football game.
“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.
“This is a case where a great deal of harm was caused. It has had a serious impact on (the victim's) life.
“I have taken into account that this isn't the kind of case this court normally deals with. You hadn't been drinking and it wasn't late at night.
“But it was in a fast moving situation and in the heat of the moment, you did something which when you realised the consequences, you regretted.”
