A FOOTBALLER from Wrexham has gone on trial after pleading not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm after he allegedly broke an opponent’s leg during a match.

Sitting before judge Niclas Parry at Mold Crown Court, 28-year-old Sean Merryweather, of Llys y Groes in Wrexham, denies allegations that he, an Acton Park midfielder, made a bad and targeted tackle towards Penyffordd Lions player Sam Richardson that resulted in a broken leg.

The injury resulted in Richardson being hospitalised for two weeks and had to undergo five operations when the incident broke the tibia and fibula bones in his right leg. A skin graft was also required.

Giving evidence, Mr Richardson told the court: “He was just out of control and it was excessive force for the situation.

“I knew instantly when it happened, I could feel that my leg was broken.

“The ball was nowhere near me, if he was trying to get the ball then he was massively off target.”

The jury heard from several witnesses how Merryweather had been acting in an “overly aggressive” manner throughout the match in the run up to the incident that resulted in the game being abandoned.

Witnesses, including Richardson’s teammates and manager, described the kick as both a ‘scissor kick’ and a ‘karate kick’ and that both feet were off the ground as Merryweather headed towards Richardson.

The court heard Merryweather, 28, received a straight red card for the tackle that made its impact on Richardson’s right leg after the referee was able to catch up with him after Merryweather left with pitch ‘with little to no remorse’ according to a number of witnesses.

Mr Simon Mintz, prosecuting, said that prior to the leg-breaking incident, on April 8, Merryweather had been given a yellow card after running across the pitch to push another player, Nathan Lavender, in the chest after he committed a foul against one of Merryweather’s teammates.

He goes on to say that moments later, Merryweather was involved in a second incident with a player but, as the referee did not see who started the altercation, a warning was issued to both players that they were being watched closely.

Minutes passed and the incident that ended in Richardson’s leg injury was described to the courtroom.

Mr Mintz told the court how the tackle was ‘nothing short of dangerous’ and that Mr Richardson was lucky to have recovered at all after complications gave him a minimal chance of regaining the full use of his leg upon recovery.

Mr James Coutts, defending, said that it was a “sliding tackle” with just one foot out in front with another facing away from the target.

He also said that the defendant asked for his best wishes to be passed along to Richardson whilst he was in hospital by a teammate, but this information was branded as false by Richardson.

The trial continues