A 45-year-old man has been jailed for six years for shattering a promising rugby player’s arm with a blow from a sledge hammer handle.

Stewart Craven lost his temper and struck 19-year-old Connor Hinchcliffe on the elbow as the teenager raised his arm to protect his head, Bradford Crown Court heard.

A jury yesterday afternoon convicted Craven, of Chapel Street, Bingley, of causing Mr Hinchcliffe grievous bodily harm with intent outside Tesco Express in Crossflatts at lunchtime on September 3. The court heard Mr Hinchcliffe, a talented Rugby Union player with the prospect of trials for the Yorkshire side, may never play again.

Mr Hinchcliffe, an electrician, had not been able to return to work and the prognosis for his complete recovery was uncertain, prosecutor John Topham told the court.

During the trial, Mr Hinchcliffe said he had known Craven for many years but, in the last 12 months or so, the older man’s behaviour had been intimidating and the problem got worse at a family barbecue shortly before the attack.

He said he parked at Tesco Express and was putting soft drinks into his car when Craven drew up in his white Transit van.

Mr Hinchcliffe said he went over to him to try to resolve their differences but an argument flared.

The two shouted and swore at one another until Mr Hinchcliffe began to drive off. He heard a bang and got out of his car to see what Craven had done to it.

Craven went to his van, took out the sledge hammer handle. The teenager backed away and raised his left arm to protect himself as Craven struck him.

Craven, a plasterer, admitted criminal damage to Mr Hinchcliffe’s car by kicking it but denied intending to hurt him.

The court heard he had previous convictions for violence.

Judge Robert Bartfield said Craven intended to teach Mr Hinchcliffe a lesson. Craven was a hard working man and a good father but he had not shown a grain of remorse.