A BASKETBALL player who head-butted an opponent during a match at Beau Sejour last month faces a possible prison sentence. Neal Bewey, 32, admitted assaulting former island player Chris Lamb during a game on 21 February.

In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, sentencing was adjourned until 12 April for a probation report.

The court heard that the first two quarters of the match between Manzur, Bewey’s team, and Richmond had passed without incident.

During the third quarter, Mr Lamb, a 47-year-old, was defending and was standing still in front of his team’s basket.

Bewey, the attacking player, jumped and kneed Mr Lamb in the chest. He was knocked backwards onto the ground.

The referee blew for a foul in favour of Mr Lamb, who said to Bewey: ‘What did you do that for?’

As Mr Lamb said the word ‘for’ the defendant headbutted him forcefully between the eyes. He was knocked to the ground and sustained a 1cm cut to the bridge of his nose.

Bewey, of Cayman, Les Tracheries Clos, Les Tracheries, L’Islet, St Sampson’s, played no further part in the game and has been suspended for 18 months by the Guernsey Basketball Association.

Mr Lamb played the last five minutes of the game before collapsing unconscious. He was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Bewey was bailed on condition that he did not contact the complainant and did not play any team sport.