Community service for headbutting footballer
ROVERS football captain Richard Powell, who headbutted opponent Simon Tostevin and then spat at his victim's mother, narrowly escaped a jail sentence for the attack.
Powell, 27, of Newhaven, La Tonnelle Clos, Vale, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to using threatening behaviour towards the North striker during an Guernsey FA Cup match at Port Soif in November. But in the Magistrate's Court, he changed his plea to guilty on an additional charge of disorderly conduct.
Judge Philip Robey, who ordered Powell to complete 40 hours community service, said the only reason the footballer was not being jailed was because Mr Tostevin had not been injured or made a formal complaint.
Mr Tostevin's mother and sister had been watching the match, when three players, including Mr Tostevin and Powell, jumped for a high ball and collided.
Play was stopped and Powell made threats to Mr Tostevin and headbutted him. Powell was sent off and as he walked towards the changing room, past Mr Tostevin's family, he called Mr Tostevin a name.
Mrs Tostevin refuted the comment and Powell was seen to turn and spit on the back of her coat.
