Police have defended the decision not to prosecute a father for attacking the football manager who dropped his son from an Abbots Langley team.

Dean Kingshott, 39, was punched, head-butted and beaten with a corner flag in an incident at Evergreen Football Club on South Way on Saturday September 15.

His attacker, a 40-year-old man from Abbots Langley, left the scene but was arrested on Tuesday (September 18) and issued with a police caution for assault and causing ABH.

Mr Kingshott, a former Watford, Spurs and Barnet youth team player of Watford Fields branded the punishment ‘ridiculous’.

Commenters on the Watford Observer website agreed with his sentiments with dozens questioning why no further action was taken.

A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokesman said: "The decision to give a caution is not taken lightly and many factors have to be taken into account in the process, such as the nature of the offence, the offender’s previous convictions and their admission to the offence.

"In this case the use of a caution was considered to be the most appropriate resolution.

"He fully admitted the offence, was sorry for his behaviour and is of previous good character.

"However, the offender was officially warned about his behaviour and the caution will remain on his police record and will influence any future police decision to prosecute or not, should that person come to the notice of the police again."