A boys' rugby tournament turned violent when the father of a player head-butted another spectator.

John Walsh saw red after his son Jake was the victim of a dangerous high tackle, Hove Crown Court was told yesterday.

He felt opposing supporters had encouraged the illegal tackle and lost his temper.

Minutes after Jake had scored the try which won the match, his father launched an unprovoked attack on Michael Stevens.

Walsh head-butted his victim in the face, loosening four teeth and leaving him with cuts and bruises. Mr Stevens, 43, now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has to take anti-depressants as a result of his ordeal.

Benjamin Summers, defending, said Walsh had “suffered a rush of blood to the head” after the illegal tackle on his son.

Mr Summers said the father-of-four had now banned himself from watching his son play for Thanet RFC for the rest of the season.

Walsh, of Upton Road, Broadstairs, Kent, admitted causing his victim actual bodily harm.

He was banned from attending rugby matches until September and ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid community work.

Judge Charles Kemp said: “You over-reacted in a monstrous way. “Spectators were trying to encourage your son and the others to play a fair game of rugby.

“By striking a man you demonstrated quite the reverse, giving entirely the wrong message to those young children.”