BASKETBALL player Neal Bewey does not want any other sportsman or woman to find themselves in the dock for a moment’s madness on the pitch. Yesterday, he started a one-month prison sentence for head-butting an opponent during a match.
The former island star, 33, apologised to everyone connected with Guernsey basketball. He said he wanted other sportsmen to learn from his mistake.
Speaking before being sentenced, he said: ‘There is no place in basketball or indeed any sport for what I did and I fully accept any punishment I receive.
‘The repercussions for my actions are potentially enormous, which is something I will have to accept.
‘But I want to highlight the fact that violence is a problem in sport and I want to bring to people’s attention that a split-second’s madness can destroy your life.’
Bewey, who was a committee member of the Guernsey Basketball Association and a top referee, was arrested in February for head-butting opponent Chris Lamb in a heated match between Manzur and Richmond.
Bewey said: ‘I’ve known Chris for years and after it happened I just wanted to talk to him to say sorry, but I couldn’t because of my bail conditions.’
The match had been a very physical encounter and Bewey said there had been several altercations leading up to the incident.
‘Both teams were getting quite irate. I fouled Chris by charging into him, which was a normal foul that happens in every game.
‘But because of the physical nature of the game and the tension that had been building, I think it was the straw that broke the camel’s back and Chris reacted to the foul and ran up to me.
‘I thought he was going to hit me and just stupidly reacted by dropping my head as he ran towards me.’
Bewey stressed that he was not trying to make excuses for his behaviour.
‘None of the circumstances surrounding the game excuses my actions. I should have just walked away.’
The part-qualified accountant said a jail sentence would lead to his dismissal from his job and a disciplinary hearing with professional association the ACCA, which could decide to take away his qualification.
He said his behaviour in his early 20s, which saw him convicted of assault on three occasions, was now coming back to haunt him.
‘If I lose my accountancy qualification I could possibly lose the ability to get a decent job upon my release.
‘I was immature at that stage in my life and made mistakes while growing up but that is all behind me. But I just want to say sorry to Chris and his team-mates for what I did.
‘I’ve let myself down and I wouldn’t want anyone else who plays sport to make the same mistake.’
Article posted on 13th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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