Roma fan jailed but escapes GBH charge for assault on Liverpool fan Sean Cox

Preston Crown Court concluded this afternoon that Italian football fan Filippo Lombardi was not guilty of committing grievous bodily harm on Liverpool supporter Sean Cox who was physically assaulted while on his way Anfield for the Champions League semi-final against Roma on 24 April.

Cox suffered "life-changing injuries" in assault

Cox knocked his head in a fall after being punched in the run-up the game when a group of Roma fans ambushed Liverpool supporters outside the Albert Pub. The 53-year-old father-of-three, who had travelled over from Ireland with his brother especially to watch the game, was rushed to hospital requiring emergency surgery for a brain hemorrhage. He was placed in an induced coma at the Walton Neurological Centre until late August and is currently continuing his rehabilitation in Dublin where he is said to be still very poorly.

Lombardi handed three-year prison sentence

Lombardi, who had wrapped a buckled belt around his knuckles in the assault, admitted violent disorder but denied inflicting grievous bodily harm on Cox. In their verdict, the jury at Preston Crown Court found him not guilty of GBH after being told that it was another suspect, who has been referred to during the case as N40, who landed the blow on Cox which caused him to fall. He was charged with aggravated assualt and sentenced to three years in prison while the other suspect, N40, is ue to be expatriated to Britain where he will stand trial.