A Sunday league footballer was branded a 'coward' by a Crown Court judge for breaking an opponent's jaw when he punched him from behind during a match.

Adrian Leonard Yates, 34, pictured, appeared before Bradford Crown Court yesterday after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Sentencing him to do 180 hours community service, pay his victim Scott Turkington £500 compensation and pay £100 court costs, Judge Peter Charlesworth also criticised him for initially denying the offence which caused police to hold an identity parade.

"You did not help yourself by trying to deny this for such a long time before you admitted that you struck a blow to a man who wasn't expecting it and wasn't in a position to defend himself," said the judge.

"It was a coward's blow from behind which broke his jaw. It caused him to have time off work, go to hospital several times and caused him great pain."

The West Riding County FA will now hold its own investigation into the incident, which happened during the second half of a game between Yates's team, Victoria 2000, and Stanbury Park Rangers in the Wharfedale Sunday FA League (WSFAL) last April.

Yates, of Averingcliffe Road, Thorpe Edge, Bradford, a father-of-two, smirked and poked his tongue out to his wife as he walked from the court.

An FA spokesman also said Yates had been disciplined for a separate incident committed while playing for another team this season but would not reveal the details.

After the case Ray Tate, president of the WSFAL, said it could only suspend clubs for persistent foul play, not players.

"But speaking as the secretary of a club in the league we certainly wouldn't have any player back in the side after an incident like this," he added.

Prosecuting barrister Richard Wright told the court how Yates punched Mr Turkington during an ill-tempered game between the teams.

Yates had made a derogatory remark to Mr Turkington, who had complained of having blisters and then attacked the player from behind when he thought he had insulted him.

Stephen Couch, mitigating, said his client deeply regretted his actions and agreed to pay any compensation to Mr Turkington. The court heard how Yates had a previous conviction for affray and a caution for threatening behaviour.