A PLAYER at the centre of an on-field assault case has admitted he prides himself on being aggressive, but insisted: “I don’t go out to injure people on a football pitch.”

The defence case in Mark Ward’s Crown court trial started yesterday with the tough-tackling midfielder telling the jury that he was sent off three times last season.

Mr Ward was also dismissed for two bookable offences in the pre-season tournament game during which he broke the ankle of teenage opponent Jonathan Carroll.

Mr Carroll complained to police after the heated encounter, claiming he had his injured leg stamped on after the tackle, and 23-year-old Mr Ward was arrested and questioned.

He was later charged with causing grievous bodily harm and assault causing actual bodily harm, and has been on trial for three days at Teesside Crown Court.

Mr Carroll claimed his opponent shattered his ankle with a “two-footed lunge”, sneered and swore at him while he was on the ground in agony and then stamped on him.

The 19-year-old and his mother said they would not have involved the police had he not been stamped on, and accepted football injuries do happen accidentally.

Other players conceded, under cross-examination from defence barrister Duncan McReddie, that the initial challenge was “not outside the norm” for “the rough old game”.

At end of the prosecution case, the charge of causing grievous bodily harm was withdrawn after Judge Peter Fox said the evidence did not support the tackle being malicious.

The judge also told the jury to replace the charge of assault causing actual bodily harm with one of common assault for the alleged stamp because no injury was caused.

Earlier, Mr Ward denied being mad or bad-tempered and claimed he could not remember saying to an opponent after a tackle: “Do that again and I’ll f***ing break your legs.”

Under cross-examination by Christine Egerton, prosecuting, Mr Ward accepted he might have sworn during the game, but told the jury: “There is no way I would have said those words.”

Asked by Mr McReddie if he was a dirty player, Mr Ward replied: “I wouldn’t say dirty. An aggressive player, hard-tackling player, yeah, not dirty.”

He admitted swearing at Mr Carroll in the heat of the moment because he did not think he was hurt, and said he was gutted when he discovered the extent of the injury afterwards.

The clash is said to have happened as Mr Carroll’s side Marton under-18s took on Whale Hill FC at Eston Sports Academy, near Middlesbrough, on June 8, last year.

Yesterday afternoon, the jury was sent out to consider its verdict on the charge which Mr Ward, of St Mary’s Court, Middlesbrough, denies, but was sent home after failing to reach a decision.

The deliberations will continue today.