Footballer's plea to court

11:13am Friday 12th October 2007

A local footballer in breach of a Community Order on three occasions made an impassioned plea to magistrates yesterday not to send him to prison.

Building worker Peter Edwards, who is a striker with Cardigan Town Football Club, said: "I love my job and football. I have been stupid, absolutely stupid.

"I am sorry and I don't want to go to prison," he said.

Edwards, aged 22, of Maeshenffordd, Cardigan, who was represented by Stephen Welch, admitted the three breaches.

He was initially given a Community Order with a requirement to carry out 250 hours unpaid work in the community for assaulting a police officer, causing criminal damage to an officer's shirt, using threatening behaviour and resisting arrest.

He was subsequently given 50 additional hours for twice breaching the court order, and on Thursday appeared for sentence on the third breach.

Mr. Welch said: "He is petrified of going to prison. If he does then he will lose his job."

The bench revoked the order and after considering a report by the Probation Service sentenced Edwards to three months imprisonment suspended for 12 months with a supervision requirement attached.