Golfer jailed for using his eight-iron to beat up rival player in row over 'wrong' ball

By Andrew Levy
Last updated at 1:05 AM on 15th July 2009

'Moment of madness: Harold Stafford at court today before being sentenced

Normally when a golfer has put another player at risk of harm, a cry of 'fore' will ring out across the course.

But when Harold Stafford thought he spotted another player striking his ball, there were no such niceties.

Instead, an angry argument broke out before Stafford, 54, hit Barry Barnes so hard with his eight iron that the head broke off.

He then punched and kicked his victim, who had collapsed to the ground, leaving him with bruises and cuts to the chest, arms, back and eye that needed treatment in hospital.

Stafford, a former Golfer of the Year at Stockwood Golf Club in Luton, Bedfordshire, was jailed for nine months today for what the prosecution described in a trial last month as a 'golf rage' attack.

Judge Richard Foster told the psychiatric nurse he had showed 'the most appalling display of anger and violence'.

During the trial, Mr Barnes, who is also 54, described how the incident blew up on September 19 last year after Stafford played a wayward shot on the third hole that strayed onto the 13th, which ran alongside.

'We were putting out on the green. I knew specifically because I missed the putt when he was shouting,' he told Luton Crown Court.

'I went over. I wanted to sort things out if there was a problem. He was still looking for his ball. I tried explaining to him that our party was not playing his ball.

'He kept saying "You played my ball. You played my ball". Then I think we got a bit heated.'

Mr Barnes, of Luton, added he was struck with the iron as he walked away.

Scene of the attack: Stockwood Park Golf Club in Luton, Bedfordshire

'If I hadn't put my arm up it would have been my head. The club was broken. I was knocked to the ground. I was hit across the back with the broken shaft,' he said.

'I was knocked to my knees. I can recollect covering my face to try and ward off the blows.'

Stafford, who has played golf for more than 15 years, denied following Mr Barnes down the fairway and shouting "Oy" three times, putting him off a putt.

And he claimed he acted in self-defence because Mr Barnes had been in a 'murderous mood' after missing the putt.

He also alleged he had been called a 'black bastard'.

But a jury found him guilty of causing actual bodily harm.

Defence barrister Brereton Horne today said his client had experienced a 'moment of madness and a temporary lapse of judgement' that had cost him his career.

Judge Foster told Stafford, who is married and lives in Luton, that prison would provide a 'hard and salutary lesson'.

'It is tragic to see you before the court having lost your good character and impeccable record as a psychiatric nurse but on this occasion you showed the most appalling display of anger and violence. It was not just a momentary loss of temper,' he said.

'I accept there was no premeditation and some provocation but I do not accept there was an element of racial abuse.

'If you had been a 20-year-old outside a nightclub who had done the same thing the court would have had no hesitation in passing an immediate custodial sentence and the same must apply to you.'

Mr Barnes was not at court today and was unavailable for comment afterwards.