Amateur footballer punched and kicked referee who sent off team mate during Sunday morning match

Dylan Jardin, 22, saw red when the card was issued during an 11-a-side Sunday morning game at the Rotherfield Road ground, Hylton Red House, on September 22, 2019.

The security firm director, of Rawmarsh Road, Downhill, Sunderland, ran towards his victim him and punched him on his right cheek.

His assault knocked the ref to the ground, and he then kicked his back and legs up to five times as players tried to haul him off.

Jardin then chased the man to his car and kicked and smashed a wing mirror – and also kicked his legs away when he retreated back to the pitch.

As his victim lay prostate, the Sunderland Last Orders player hoofed his back and knees a further five times, a court has heard.

He received a five-year ban from the Durham FA for the assault during a game against Eastington Leavers Red Caps FC.

Jardin could have been put behind bars for five years after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

But magistrates retreated from a jail term after hearing he had become a reformed character since the attack.

They instead handed him an 18-month community order, with 160 hours of unpaid work – and he must pay his victim £200 compensation

Prosecutor Tracey Wood said: “The victim was the referee, and the defendant was one of the players.

“He had given a card, and the defendant has attempted to get to the referee but has been held back.

“He broke through team mates and punched him to the ground, and kicked him on the ground.

“The victim has been chased around by the defendant, who has continued to kick out at his victim as he ran away.

“The man had swelling to right of face and a swollen right knee. I do apply for compensation for the victim.

“He would like to say that he also felt dizzy and felt sick.”

A previous hearing was told Jardin caused £90 damage to the car and that an ambulance was called to treat the part-time referee, who is also a student at Sunderland University.

Robin Ford, defending, said Jardin had outgrown his immaturity and now ran a successful CCTV installation business that employed four people.

Mr Ford also said Jardin financially supported people and clubs in the community, adding: “Back then he was an angry young man, he’s now a father.

“He is a different man to that who committed this offence. He was 20 at the time, and the boy is now a man.

“He’s making a positive impact in society now, he was making a negative impact. He is not someone who has continued to offend, it was a one-off.”

Magistrates described the attack as “serious” but said there was sufficient mitigation not to imprison Jardin.

They also ordered him to do 15 sessions of the Resolve anger management programme, and to pay a £90 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

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