A spectator who attacked a player during a football match, breaking his cheekbone, escaped a jail sentence.

Judge David Griffith Jones said the interests of justice would be best served by Jack Daffy making reparation to the victim and society.

The 21-year-old, said to have acted in “60 seconds of madness”, was sentenced to 26 weeks imprisonment suspended for a year and ordered to pay £3,000 compensation.

Daffy, of Crestway, Chatham, will also be under supervision and have to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work.

“I hope you will repay the confidence I have expressed in you,” Judge Griffith Jones said.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the assault happened during a match between Titans and Alexander in the Red Triangle League at the Stirling Centre, Rochester, on October 14, last year.

Daffy became angry about a tackle on his brother by James Norley and ran on the pitch and punched him once.

The victim was taken to hospital and had to have a plate inserted in his cheek.

Shahid Rashid, defending, said Daffy had been a model child. He passed 11 GCSEs at Medway Community College and won a number of awards.

He said: “Even today, save for that 60 seconds of madness, he is somebody who has acted in a most responsible way.

“In every respect, he is a valid member of the community. This offence was out of character.”

Mr Rashid said Daffy, who admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, soon afterwards apologised to Mr Norley.