A BROTHER of Norwich City striker Chris Martin has been warned that he could be jailed after a late-night attack on a Beccles rugby player.A jury at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday took less than an hour to find 22-year-old Gerald Martin, of Station Road, Beccles, guilty of assaulting lorry driver Daniel Rix as he walked home from the Ingate pub in Beccles in June.

A BROTHER of Norwich City striker Chris Martin has been warned that he could be jailed after a late-night attack on a Beccles rugby player.

A jury at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday took less than an hour to find 22-year-old Gerald Martin, of Station Road, Beccles, guilty of assaulting lorry driver Daniel Rix as he walked home from the Ingate pub in Beccles in June.

During a two-day trial, the court heard that Mr Rix, who plays rugby for Beccles, was drinking in the Ingate pub on June 28 when Martin's father - also called Gerald - barged into him, causing him to spill his drink.

There was an altercation in the pub and later that night, Mr Rix was walking home with a friend when he saw Gerald Martin junior and his brother Chris in front of them. The brothers slowed down and as Mr Rix walked past, he was pushed to the ground and kicked in the head by Gerald Martin junior.

Mr Rix suffered a cut on his cheek and two black eyes in the attack.

Judge David Goodin told Martin yesterday that the offence was “serious” and crossed the custody threshold. “It may well result in the loss of your liberty,” he said.

The court heard that witnesses had identified Martin's brother Chris Martin, who is currently on loan to Luton Town, as being present during the incident but not involved in it.

Giving evidence, Martin denied pushing Mr Rix from behind and kicking him in the head and claimed that Mr Rix had hit him first and he had hit him back.

Martin said that witnesses who identified his brother Chris as being present were mistaken and claimed that he had been with his brother Anthony at the time.

Anthony Martin claimed that he and his brother Gerald had seen Mr Rix and a friend behind them and had waited for them to pass as they were “loud and drunk”.

He claimed that Mr Rix had hit his brother in the face and his brother had responded by pushing Mr Rix to the ground.

He said the two men had rolled around on the ground for a few seconds before his brother got up and walked off and denied seeing his brother hit or kick Mr Rix.

Martin will return to Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing next month.