Ilkeston man jailed for assault at Forest game

An Ilkeston man has been jailed after he ran towards a football player and headbutted him moments after the conclusion of Tuesday's play-off semi-final match between Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United.

Robert Biggs was caught on camera as he ran towards and assaulted Sheffield United player Billy Sharp on the touchline, bundling him the floor as part of a melee of fans who invaded the pitch after the Reds won a place in the Championship Play Off final following a penalty shoot-out.

In the wake of a social media storm in which footage was shared with Nottinghamshire Police Football Unit, the local man was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning after calling police to give himself up.

During a police interview, he admitted that it was him in the footage but claimed that he had not intended to make contact with the player.

Biggs, a Forest season ticket holder, said he had consumed as many as six pints of beer before the game plus another at half time, but said that he only realised the extent of the contact after seeing damning television footage which showed him running away out of camera shot after carrying out the attack. 

Appearing before Nottingham Magistrates on Thursday, he pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and was jailed for a total of 24 weeks.

He was also given a ten year football banning order, ordered to pay £500 in compensation and must also pay a victim surcharge of £128 plus costs of £85.

Detective Inspector Paul Lefford, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was an absolutely shameful end to an otherwise brilliant night of football.

“This kind of casual thuggery has no place in the game and I hope today’s sentence sends out a very clear warning to others who may be tempted to act in a similar way.

“You will be identified, you will be put before the courts and you may very well end up in prison and you will not be able to watch football for a very long time.”

In the wake of the incident, fans demonstrated their objections and threw their support behind the assaulted player by raising well in excess of £5,000 for one of Billy Sharp's chosen charities.