Triumph swept over Hertsmere Borough Councillor Frank Ward this week as he learned that convicted soccer hard-man Vinnie Jones would not spend his community service sentence teaching football to Borehamwood children.

The outspoken councillor had been certain that after the notorious player was found guilty by St Albans magistrates of assaulting his neighbour, he would be allowed to coach football in Hertfordshire schools to serve the 100 hours.

"I am very, very pleased that this has not been the case, and I am extremely glad I did something to stop it happening," said Mr Ward, who wrote to Hertfordshire County Council in a desparate plea to prevent him teaching in Borehamwood. "I really thought that Vinnie Jones would be sharing his footballing knowledge with our children, as has been the case in a similar incident with another footballer. This just goes to show that you should shout about things you are concerned about and something will be done.

"It would have been terrible and very worrying for parents if this man had been allowed to spend his sentence in our schools. Today's children are tomorrow's adults, we all know that. And the problem is these football stars are seen as idols by young people. What he did to his neighbour was just awful, and I think the sentence is not enough. But to have him as a role model in our schools would be very wrong.

"How could we expect youngsters to learn right from wrong if he had been allowed to spend hours working alongside them, doing something he enjoys? They would have thought it is acceptable to behave violently in the way he did towards his neighbour, not to mention the fact it would have been no punishment for him."

Vinnie Jones, 33, lives in Redbourn, near St Albans in Hertfordshire, and is assistant manager and a player at Queens Park Rangers. He was found guilty of criminal damage and causing actual bodily harm to his neighbour, 27-year-old Tim Gear, despite denying the charges.

Magistrates gave him a £300 fine and sentenced him to 100 hours community service. Former Manchester United player Eric Cantona spent part of his community service sentence teaching children football after being found guilty of attacking a spectator in 1995.

But Hertfordshire Probation Service thought better of handing out the same 'punishment' to Jones and confirmed this week that he would be painting community buildings within the county.

Assistant chief probation officer Matthew Kelly said: "Given the nature of his conviction it has been decided that a footballing placement would not be suitable. It has been judged appropriate for Vinnie Jones to take up a placement where he will be punished for his offence by helping refurbish and renovate various community buildings.

"It is not our policy to put offenders convicted of this type of offence into a placement where they are likely to be working with impressionable young people, especially in a sporting environment."

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