{"id":579549,"date":"2026-05-12T09:06:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T09:06:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/579549\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T09:06:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T09:06:23","slug":"footballer-sentenced-for-shocking-elbow-on-opponent-as-victim-speaks-out-after-viral-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/579549\/","title":{"rendered":"Footballer sentenced for shocking elbow on opponent as victim speaks out after viral attack"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Thomas Taylor appeared in court to plead guilty to assaulting Daniel Brookwell while playing for Trearddur Bay against Porthmadog during a football match in Wales<\/p>\n<p>17:48, 11 May 2026Updated 17:52, 11 May 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Former pro Thomas Taylor received a suspended sentence for the elbow\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1_Playerelbow.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Former pro Thomas Taylor received a suspended sentence for the elbow\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Former pro Thomas Taylor received a suspended sentence for the elbow(Image: X)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A football player has been sentenced after he was filmed elbowing and allegedly knocking out an opponent following claims he had been fouled and \u201cprovoked\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Former pro Thomas Taylor, 36, of Llanddona, Beaumaris, Anglesey, pleaded guilty to assaulting Daniel Brookwell causing actual bodily harm on January 17 at Porthmadog, Gwynedd. Taylor received a 24-week jail term, suspended for a year on Monday, May 11.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Prosecutor Diane Williams told magistrates at Caernarfon that <a aria-label=\"Mr Brookwell had been playing for Porthmadog against Trearddur Bay.Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/trearddur-bay-porthmadog-player-elbow-36572879\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Mr Brookwell had been playing for Porthmadog against Trearddur Bay.<\/a> According to him there was no rivalry between the teams.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But the prosecutor said Porthmadog had been given a penalty because of a foul on Mr Brookwell. He had then waited shoulder-to-shoulder with Taylor for the penalty to be taken.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mrs Williams said Mr Brookwell had described: \u201dI suddenly hit the floor. I didn\u2019t realise I was on the floor until after a few seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37141614\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/man-utd-antony-real-betis-37141614\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Man Utd flop Antony fires subtle dig at Red Devils after revealing secret to &#8216;best season&#8217;<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37141450\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/news\/liverpool-arne-slot-replacement-iraola-37141450\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Liverpool Arne Slot replacement named as Richard Hughes theory shared<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Blood had been coming from his mouth and nose area and he was in shock. An image of an injured lip was shown to the court and the video of the assault.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The court heard Mr Brookwell came off the pitch, feeling dizzy. \u201cA young male showed me the footage of what had happened,\u201d Mr Brookwell said in a statement. \u201cI was quite shocked. I don\u2019t understand what caused this. Being knocked unconscious during a football match was deeply distressing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The video of the attack went viral online. Mr Brookwell said: \u201dI found it very difficult to return to football in the same way. The incident has taken away the confidence and enjoyment I once had playing the game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The prosecution said: \u201dThe defendant said he had been fouled by the victim previously and just before the incident that he had been provoked to the point he was threatened. That\u2019s not the case at all. It was a purposeful assault.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!<a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mirrorfootball\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"> Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football&#8217;s Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Taylor had been booked for dissent during the game, Mrs Williams added. Defence solicitor Glyn Roberts claimed: \u201dPrior to the assault, which the defendant has admitted, he will maintain the victim said words to the effect \u2018I will break your f***ing legs, you m***\u2018.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Roberts said Taylor accepted his conduct was \u201cinexcusable\u201d and wished to apologise. He\u2019d been a Shrewsbury Town professional footballer at one time and was a coach for the Anglesey club, playing occasionally.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Taylor had diabetes and believed his blood-sugar level and \u201cprovocation\u201d may have affected him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Roberts added: \u201dThe consequences for him have been significant. He\u2019s been vilified on social media, threats have been made against him. He asks the court to consider the provocation in this case.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Court chairman Gwilym Morgan told Taylor: \u201dThis was a serious offence and we believe that it has crossed the custody threshold.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A 24 weeks jail term was suspended for a year. He must pay \u00a3200 compensation, a \u00a3154 surcharge, and \u00a385 costs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Trearddur Bay FC had posted after the violence: \u201dFollowing an internal review, the decision was taken to release the suspended player involved with immediate effect.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cTrearddur Bay <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/football\/\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Football<\/a> Club does not condone violence in any form and acknowledges that the incident should not have occurred. The club offers its sincere apologies to the opposition player involved, CPD Porthmadog, match officials, supporters, and the wider football community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"Join our new WhatsApp communityLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us &#8211; and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. 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