An Italian man has been sentenced to 3 and a half years for attacking Liverpool fan Sean Cox outside Anfield last April.
30 year old Simone Mastrelli left the Meath man with catastrophic head injuries ahead of a Champions League tie between Liverpool and Roma.
Today he appeared at Preston Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on the father of 3.
He pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of violent disorder.
Two other Italian men have already been sentenced in relation to the incident.
Daniel Sciusco, 29, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for violent disorder in August, and Filippo Lombardi, 21, was jailed for three years for violent disorder in October.
Merseyside Police have released a statement in relation to this afternoon's sentencing.
Detective Inspector Paul Speight said "I hope today’s sentencing sends a clear message that anyone who seeks to bring violence to a sporting event will face the full force of the law."
He added:
I hope that the jailing of Mastrelli today, together with the outpouring of support the family have received, provides the family with some comfort as they continue to adjust to lives that have been forever changed by the events of that night.
