Former Rotherham United defender jailed after horror challenge

Nathaniel Kerr (27), who featured in three first-team games for the Millers back in the 2007, pleaded guilty to assault and was jailed for one year following the incident in a Sunday league match on August 31 2014.

Kerr committed what was described at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court as a running “long jump”, stamping down on the leg of victim Stuart Parsons and fracturing his leg in multiple places.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident Kerr, who was playing for the Longsight pub team in the AFC Gold Cup, blurted a flurry of abuse at his victim, shouting “Get up you soft c**t.”

The court heard how the incident followed a verbal argument between Mr Parsons and a player in the Longsight team in the early stages of the game.

Mr Parsons, a 30-year-old window cleaner, was taken straight to hospital and remained for several weeks undergoing extensive reconstructive surgery on his leg.

Constable Louise Spencer, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "This injury has had a catastrophic effect on the victim's life, meaning he has been unable to work or support his young family.

"He is self-employed and the injury meant he was forced to rely on the kindness of his teammates, who arranged fundraisers and charity events to provide the financial support he needed.

"All the while Kerr has shown absolutely no remorse for his vicious attack, calling the victim a 'wimp' and verbally abusing him as he was lying in agony on the pitch.

"The subsequent investigation and conviction into this assault demonstrates that this kind of aggression and thuggery during sporting fixtures will not be tolerated by Greater Manchester Police."