A football hooligan left another fan partially blinded after he threw a coin at rival supporters in a drunken rage during a Premier League football match.

Manchester City fan George Ashworth, 23, hurled a 2p just minutes after Liverpool opened the scoring with a penalty, leaving a man with a hole in his eye.

Saleem Akhteer, a father of two, now suffers from blurred vision which medics say will never return to normal - even if he were to undergo surgery or wear glasses.

Ashworth has been jailed for 20 months today after the incident on March 19 this year.

The coin flew over several rows of seats into the away supporters end at City's Etihad stadium before hitting innocent company director Mr Akhteer, 33, in his left eye.

Mr Akhteer had to be referred for specialist treatment where he was found to have lost 50% vision.

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In a statement Mr Akhteer, of Birmingham, said: "I used to be a confident, outgoing and sociable person but this incident has had an impact on my day to day life and the memory of it is so upsetting.

"I have been depressed and was not able to leave the house in the first few months.

"I've lost the central vision in my left eye and thinking about it is still upsetting and painful.

"I even live in constant fear that someone will assault me again in a large crowd."

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He added: "I have two young children and this has impacted on their childhood and the activities I can do with them.

"I am a businessman and have to drive to work and I am also a keen motorcyclist - but I am too scared to do that now because of my vision."

Ashworth, from Stalybridge, who works with children who have special needs, later admitted hurling the coin but he claimed he had no intention of causing injury.

At Manchester Crown Court he admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was also banned from football matches for six years.

Prosecuting, Justin Hayhoe said: "The complainant in this case was a supporter of Liverpool and on the 19th of March he and a friend travelled from Birmingham to Manchester to watch Manchester City play Liverpool.

"He had bought tickets and was in the away area and close to stands and security who were forming a front between them and the away fans. The defendant was in the home end and close to that line of segregation.

"The game commenced and there was normal rivalry and banter between the fans. Half time came and the complainant had gone to buy a hot drink.

"Liverpool were awarded a penalty and scored and the fans were happy and cheering. But an object was thrown, hitting the complainant in his eye. He fell to the floor and put his hands to his face."

Mr Hayhoe continued: "There were young children also in that stand where they could have been hit.

"Having thrown the object there was quite some distance so there must have been some force behind the 2p coin.

"He was initially given some treatment and he was then referred to his local accident and emergency in Birmingham.

"His injury consisted of a hole in the left eye and he was referred for specialist treatment and he attended a number of appointments in London.

"On the 28th of March 50% of the sharpness in his vision had been reduced."

The court heard that by September his sight had got worse and he still suffers from blurred vision.

Doctors have told him that his vision will not return to normal and glasses or surgery will not assist.

As a result of the injury he has a number of medical appointments which he had to pay for privately.

Ashworth was arrested a month after the attack but made no comment to police in interview.

His lawyer Rachel White said in mitigation: "He is absolutely mortified from his actions and he understands the profound impact the matters have had on this victim.

"This was an unintentional consequence of what he did. Mr Akhteer was not a targeted victim and no injury was intended.

"He accepts that the offence was stupid and reckless and it is still inexplicable as to why he acted in the way he did.

"He is an accomplished sports man and puts himself out there to help others less fortunate.

"He has gained employment working with children with special educational needs and as a consequence of that offence it is unlikely he will be able to pursue that career.

"He is overwhelmed with guilt and his mother and father are still reeling from the shock of this. It is a very sad case which ever way you look at it."

Passing sentence Judge Michael Leeming told Ashworth: "I have absolutely no issue hesitation describing you as an outstanding man with many qualities and this case is as much a tragedy for your family as for your victim and I have no doubt your family will remain proud of your achievements.

"But there is a darker side to your character where you allowed tribal and aggressiveness to take over and act without common sense.

"When you threw that missile with no particular target you caused injury to an innocent man who has received life changing injuries.

"The victim, who is a company director and Liverpool fan had been drinking a cup of coffee when he was struck by the coin which had been deliberately thrown into a sea of Liverpool supporters with very serious consequences.

"It would have been obvious to you that some injury to an innocent victim would be likely - all this because they supported the rival team.

"A number of supporters were laughing when you threw the object and you had consumed a vast quantity of alcohol."

The Judge added: "This had an affect on the victim who received a stage three Macular Hole to the left eye which required specialist treatment and he reported a devastating affect on himself and his family.

"He is no longer the confident man he was before and described his injury as life changing.

"All these factors mean this offence is so serious that only immediate custody can apply."