Keighley Cougars star Martin Wood was told by a judge he was a lucky man to escape jail after admitting punching a woman.

Wood, 29, of Shaw Avenue, Normanton, had denied causing grievous bodily harm to Miss Jane Judson after an incident while he was out drinking.

However, he admitted the lesser charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and the charge was accepted by the Court.

Judge Peter Hoffman said last Friday that he had considered a six or nine month custodial sentence for the rugby league player, but instead decided to impose a community service order of 200 hours, which must be completed within a year.

And Judge Hoffman warned him that he must not use his training commitments as an excuse for failing to complete the community service.

He was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to his victim and £250 costs. The court heard how the fracas developed on June 13 after Wood had downed ten pints of beer. An argument had developed between the player - one of the Cougars most experienced forwards and who played for the Sheffield Eagles cup winning side of 1998 - and a girl.

He had gone to lash out at the girl, missed her, but hit her friend Miss Judson. She suffered bruising and swelling to her face.

The court was told that Wood had a previous conviction for violence in 1993.

Mr Michael Smith, representing Wood, said: "This unfortunate incident took place when he was in drink. It's some months ago and he had quite a lot of bad publicity which was partly his own fault. He is a settled family man. He has two jobs, a partner and a child."

Wood receives £20,000 a year from Keighley Cougars and is also a supervisor at a factory in Hunslet.

Sentencing the player, Judge Hoffman, at Leeds Crown Court, said: "You are a well-built, powerful man, and you have caused a nasty injury to the complainant. Consider yourself a fortunate man.

"I will not be sympathetic to any excuse that your training comes first, the court order comes first."

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