The neighbours of an electrician jailed for headbutting Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp claim he was "as good as gold". Nottingham Forest fan Robert Biggs ran across the pitch after the Reds secured a place in the Championship final and left Sharp needing stitches.
Thousands of fans stormed the pitch as Forest took the win over the Blades in a nail-biting penalty shootout. One of these was Biggs, 30, of Church View in Ilkeston.
The full-time electrical engineer, earning £55,000-a-year, then proceeded to plough into Sharp in an attack that shocked those who witnessed the attack and watched the footage on social media. He was jailed for 24 weeks at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and must also pay Sharp £500 compensation.
Read more: Future of condemned paddling pool on Victoria Embankment in doubt
He has been banned from the game for ten years - the terms of the order are still being drafted by the prosecution. He also has to pay a victim surcharge of £128 and costs of £85.
After being informed of Biggs' crime, and punishment, neighbours of Biggs were shocked to learn the man they thought of as a "gentle giant" had been jailed for assault, Derbyshire Live reports. One neighbour, an elderly gentleman, said: "I don’t believe it. Rob is so hardworking and would help you out with anything.”
“He works as an electrician you see and he barely even goes to matches because he works so hard. He has always been good to me.”
Another elderly couple who live near Biggs had no clue their neighbour had been involved with the incident. They said: "Oh what's he done that for, we had heard about it on the radio but didn't realise it was Rob. He'll lose his job because of that."
The wife of the couple added: "He is as good as gold, ask anybody and they will say that. He has helped me out when I need stuff done around the house like the electrics.
"I have never seen him show any aggression towards anyone, he rarely drinks. Just a really kind person, this is so out of character."
However, one neighbour didn't seem as shocked, having been involved in a minor parking dispute with Biggs.
The neighbour said: "It left a bad taste in my mouth. It has snowballed over the last two years. Put it this way, I am not surprised. Saying that, he gets on with the couple behind me so I don’t know, it might just be me.”
Biggs' partner was approached for comment, but she declined to speak to our reporter.
