Former Macc player receives suspended sentence for GBH

Victim was kicked and stamped on

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A FORMER Macclesfield FC player has been spared jail for his part in an attack outside a pizza takeaway.

Leon Arnasalam, 26, had been celebrating his birthday with two other men he had known from playing semi-professionally, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday, May 7.

It was said the trio had punched, kicked and stamped on their victim as he lay stricken in the road and he was left with a broken spine.

Arnasalam who now plays for Clitheroe had previously been labelled a 'fans favourite' while at Macc.

The other two involved were Kane Drummond, 24, who has also previously played for Macclesfield, and Rio Merrifield, 23.

Arnasalam and Drummond were both handed 20-month imprisonments suspended for 18 months with 200 hours of unpaid work.

Merrifield received two years suspended for 18 months with 250 hours of unpaid work. Each must pay £500 compensation.

The court heard how Shayan Lawrence returned from buying a takeaway in Liverpool city centre on December 12, 2002, to find Arnasalam, Drummond and Merrifield standing beside his vehicle.