A footballer who broke an opponent's jaw has escaped a prison sentence because he saved up to pay compensation.

Derek Roy, 23, of Nuthurst Place, Brighton, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm against Lee Gordon during a five-a-side football match on September 2, 2002.

Last month, a jury at Horsham Crown Court returned a guilty verdict after hearing how Roy came up behind Mr Gordon and punched him following a stand-off with another player over a tough tackle.

At the time Judge Guy Anthony said of Roy's sentence: "The likelihood is it will have to be custodial. Violence on the sports field is all too common and when it occurs it must clearly not be tolerated."

But yesterday Roy, who has a six-month-old daughter, was sentenced to 200 hours community service, ordered to pay £750 compensation to Mr Gordon and £820 towards court costs.

Judge Anthony told him if he had not saved £1,000 to pay the compensation he would have gone to jail. He said it showed his remorse was more genuine than many other offenders.

Violence flared during a match between Roy's side, the Private Piles Army and Montpellier Villas at the Stanley Deason Centre in Whitehawk, Brighton.

After the incident, Mr Gordon, 34, a communications manager from Brighton, had to have titanium plates inserted in his jaw during surgery at a specialist unit at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

He was off work for two weeks and was forced to suck food through a straw.

Speaking at Horsham Crown Court yesterday, Rossano Scarmadella, defending, said the punch was due to a momentary lapse of control.

Roy was sorry for his actions and his pre-sentence report found there was a low risk of him reoffending.

Sentencing Roy, Judge Anthony said: "If anybody thinks violence on the football field is excusable because of what we see on television, I will disabuse them.

"It is no better than any other sort of violence and in some cases it is worse because there is no excuse of alcohol or an argument over a girlfriend.

"I bear in mind you have no previous convictions and you have showed remorse.

"The jury rejected your claim that you feared for your friend's life and were defending him.

"If you had not put a substantial amount of money by for compensation, you would be going to prison."