A TEENAGE hockey player convicted of assaulting a rival during a match at Blackburn Arena will not be further punished, it has been revealed.

The disciplinary board of the English Ice Hockey Association today confirmed that they will not be taking any further action against 19-year-old Robert Brownbill.

And they said he will be eligible to return to playing ice hockey at the start of next season.

Brownbill was convicted of common assault after a four-day trial at Preston Crown Court earlier this month.

The court heard that he had continued to hit rival player Richard Hulme, a member of the Blackburn Hawks under-19s team, on the head after he fell to the ice during a derby match.

Brownbill, of Swinton, who had been playing his first match for Altrincham Tigers under-19s, was cleared by a jury of hitting Hulme in the face with his stick.

After the incident, in October 2002, Brownbill was suspended.

The case, the first of its kind in the UK, prompted concern about the potential dangers of ill-discipline on the ice and whether the game's governing body did enough to prevent violence.

Bill Britton, company secretary for the EIHA and chairman of the disciplinary board, said when there was a court case they were unable to take action until the police have finished their case.

But he confirmed today that no further action will be taken against Robert Brownbill.

Mr Britton said: "Robert Brownbill will be given the opportunity to resume playing ice hockey on August 1, which is the start of the new season.

"It is too late for this season, but by the time the new season resumes he will have been out of the game for nearly two years.

"He has been suspended since October 2002 and we feel that is sufficient."

Angela Hulme, the mother of victim Richard, speaking from her home in Blackpool, said the family were just glad the matter was finally over.

She said: "We accept the decision of the English Ice Hockey Association.

"They are the governing body and they have looked into the matter and we respect their decision.

"Richard Brownbill has had a ban while the trial has been going on but we would be very surprised if any team took him on now knowing that he has a criminal record for assault."