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Sports boss is jailed for sword attack on bouncer
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent13.01.09
AN IRATE sports chief who lost his temper at a tournament and attacked a security guard with a samurai sword has been jailed.
Jaswinder Sahota, president of the National Federation of Kabaddi, lunged at bouncer Ray Connolly with the ceremonial weapon - which he was due to present to the winner of the Asian sport's international event in Gravesend, Kent.
Mr Connolly suffered severe injuries to his left hand after he was forced to grab the blade to avoid being stabbed in the stomach. Sahota, 51, was locked up for 18 months yesterday after admitting a charge of wounding.
Maidstone crown court heard that thousands of spectators from across the world were attending the tournament in May 2007. Kabaddi is a form of the playground game "tag", played on a rectangular field, combining elements of rugby and wrestling.
Prosecutor Katie Fox said: "Mr Sahota had been drinking heavily and became irate while watching the games, at times entering the playing field to argue with the referee and berate the players.
"When security guards on duty at the event asked him to leave the pitch, he became aggressive and shouted, 'Do you know who I am?' This behaviour continued throughout the day, and security staff considered removing him from the venue altogether, but the event's organisers protested."
Miss Fox said Sahota, of West Bromwich, pulled up at the tournament venue's gate in a chauffeur-driven silver car at around 6pm that day.
She said: "He stepped out of the back brandishing a samurai sword, which he had been due to present to the event's winner at the closing ceremony. He removed the sword from its sheath and started waving it around in front of the security guard. He asked him, 'Does anyone want any trouble now?'
"Mr Sahota then lunged at him with the sword, and Mr Connolly grabbed the blade in a desperate attempt to disarm him. The sword was pulled back sharply out of Mr Connolly's hand, slicing into his fingers and permanently damaging three tendons and two nerves."
Mr Connolly needed 68 stitches in his palm, she added. Nishrn Bidhu-Brar, defending, said his client had been drinking during the day and became "irate" during the games - but said the attack was not premeditated. Mr Bidhu-Brar said: "This incident and court case is a huge embarrassment to him, and he has stopped taking part in kabaddi tournaments as a result."
Reader views (1)
I find it unbelievable that this crime was committed in May 2007 and it has taken this long for this man to be sentenced. While awaiting for this case to be heard it has been a traumatic time for Mr Connolly and his familly. He suffered extreem pain and disability and was unable to hold his new born baby for which he is the carer, had no financial support and was unable to work. 18 months is a small price to pay when the person who was attacked has to live with these injuries for life. When knife crime is at the forefront of every political debate where is the justice that allowed this man to walk free for the last 18 months after being arrested at the scene after committing this crime. He was even found guilty of this crime at court in December, sent home to enjoy Christmas with his family and came back to court in January for sentencing. Is the law on the side of the criminal or the innocent? For me I find the whole system a bit of a joke.
- Faith, Switzerland
