An Oztag player who has been banned from the sport for life has escaped jail time after he was handed a suspended sentence.
Trevor Riley pleaded guilty at Penrith Local Court earlier this month to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, after punching a 20-year-old referee on August 24.
The 22-year-old struck umpire Travis Kelly after being ordered off the field for making inappropriate comments during the match in St Mary’s.
Oztag player Trevor Riley (pictured), who has been banned from the sport for life for punching a referee, has escaped jail time after he was handed a suspended sentence
On Tuesday, Magistrate Georgia Knight sentenced Riley to a suspended jail term, placing him on a 16-month good behaviour bond.
He was ordered to accept Community Corrections Service supervision for as long as considered necessary and obey all reasonable directions.
He was also ordered to undergo counselling, educational development or drug and alcohol rehabilitation and anger management if required.
Magistrate Knight said an early guilty plea and lack of criminal history had been factors in the decision, Nine News reports.
Magistrate Georgia Knight sentenced Riley to a suspended jail term, placing him on a 16-month good behaviour bond, but he has lodged an appeal listed for October 5
The 22-year-old (pictured) struck umpire Travis Kelly after being ordered off the field for making inappropriate comments during the match in St Mary’s in August
Riley has lodged an appeal over the sentence, which was listed for hearing in the Penrith District Court on October 5.
NSW Oztag tournament director Bill Harrigan told AAP the assault had led to Riley being banned from playing the game in Australia for life.
‘Oztag will not tolerate violence towards referees, whether verbal or physical,’ he said.
‘This will send a message: ‘do not touch a referee’.’
The victim was seeking counselling over the attack and told reporters outside court he was happy with the sentence.
NSW Oztag tournament director Bill Harrigan said the assault had led to Riley being banned from playing the game in Australia for life