AN amateur footballer has narrowly avoided being jailed following mayhem on the pitch.
James Bozarth appeared for sentencing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Monday, May 20.
A previous court hearing was told how all hell broke loose during the match, with players brawling and a bat being wielded on the pitch.
Twenty-eight-year-old Mr Bozarth, of no fixed address in Mortimer Common, had been playing for Reading YMCA in a match against Reading City under 23s at the Padworth pitch.
A tackle between him and another player led to punches being thrown by several players, the court heard.
Mr Bozarth was given a red card and was led from the pitch, but picked up a corner flag pole and started waving it around like a weapon.
He was again removed from the pitch but returned minutes later with a bat.
Teammates tackled him to the ground but struggled for up to 15 minutes to subdue him and get the weapon off him, the court heard.
Mr Bozarth admitted two charges of possessing an offensive weapon – the corner flag pole and cricket bat respectively – and one of using threatening behaviour towards Luke Donvil, all on the same occasion at the Padworth Village Hall pitch on August 28 last year.
He has four previous convictions for offences including public disorder, criminal damage and harassment, the court heard.
At the sentencing hearing district judge Samuel Goozee sentenced Mr Bozarth to 20 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.
In addition he was required to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work.
Finally, Mr Bozarth was ordered to pay £85 costs plus £100 in compensation in lieu of an otherwise statutory victim services surcharge.
