Linesman, 24, guilty of GBH

A football linesman was found guilty today of punching a player during a match. David Taylor, 24, of Bainbridge Green, Shrewsbury, had denied a charge of grievous bodily harm.

It followed an incident during a game between Heathgates Utd and Ludlow Town Colts.

The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict at Shrewsbury Crown Court today. Taylor will be sentenced at a later date after pre-sentence reports have been prepared.

The match was held at Monkmoor Recreation Centre, Shrewsbury, on December 3, 2005.

Taylor punched Ludlow Town Colts player Nicholas Dahn after running from the side of the pitch, where he was acting as a linesman for Heathgates.

Taylor had already admitted misconduct during the match when he appeared at a disciplinary hearing of the Shropshire Football Association, and was given a 112 day suspension and £75 fine.

But in court he denied causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Dahn.

During his summing-up, Mr Paul Smith, for Taylor, said there had been a "chaotic, confused, large group of people" on the pitch at the time of the incident.

He said prosecution witnesses were giving different accounts.

After the jury returned its verdict, Mr Daniel White, prosecuting, revealed Taylor had previous convictions for violence, offences of dishonesty and affray.