A SEMI-PROFESSIONAL footballer has been spared a jail sentence for a road rage attack.

Adam Bailey-Dennis broke Ashley Lawrence’s cheekbone after a row over being cut up on Westway in Colchester.

Bailey-Dennis, who admitted causing actual bodily harm at an earlier hearing, was handed a three-month driving ban and jailed for six months, suspended for two years.

He was also told to pay his victim £1,000 compensation.

The 19-year-old former Colchester United youth and reserve team player had been offered a contract at Braintree Town Football Club, but that is now under review.

He had also been set to be a volunteer coach for the Colchester United Community Sports Trust, but that has fallen through.

Mr Lawrence has revealed how the assault has left him shaken and afraid to get behind the wheel. And despite months of physiotherapy, his jaw still clicks when he chews food.

The 37-year-old, who drives a hearse for a living as a funeral director, said he now disliked taking to the roads without a passenger, as he feared another attack.

He said: “After it happened, the next time I drove somewhere I was really panicked. When I got to my destination, I couldn’t remember anything about the journey.”

Mr Lawrence, who also works as a Colchester General Hospital cleaner, said he was pleased Bailey-Dennis had “got his comeuppance”.

The court heard Mr Lawrence was driving from Asda towards the town centre at about 4pm on October 2 last year when he saw a Peugeot.

The vehicle Bailey-Dennis was driving stopped in front of him, then drove off before stopping again, and a passenger got out.

Mr Lawrence got out of his car and the court heard he got into a row with the passenger before Bailey-Dennis got out of his car.

Carolyn Gardiner, prosecuting, said he went up to Mr Lawrence and punched him once in the face, knocking him back onto the bonnet of his car.

Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC yesterday told Bailey-Dennis: “Essex and other counties suffer a plague with this sort of behaviour and it must be stamped out. Road rage is not acceptable.”

Bailey-Dennis lives with his former footballer father at the Castle pub in High Street, Colchester.