Cotterill jailed for Rigg punch
Barrow defender James Cotterill has been sentenced to four months in prison.
Barrow defender James Cotterill has been sentenced to four months in prison for smashing a rival player's jaw during an FA Cup match.Television cameras captured the 24-year-old striking Sean Rigg and he pleaded guilty to punching the Bristol Rovers striker causing him grievous bodily harm during a first round match on 11th November.
Rigg was left with a fractured jaw and Preston Crown Court heard it must be held together with metal plates for the rest of his life.
Passing sentence, Judge Robert Brown said: "The courts have for a long time now made it absolutely clear that this sort of violence on the field of play cannot and will not be tolerated.
"And for this kind of off-the-ball incident a custodial sentence is inevitable."
Cotterill, who resigned from Barrow shortly afterwards and wrote letters of apology to Rigg and Bristol Rovers, has been banned from all football by The Football Association until 1st March.
