kerry dixon
Former Chelsea star Kerry Dixon, pictured here in 1985 Getty

Former England and Chelsea footballer Kerry Dixon has been jailed for nine months after being found guilty of assaulting a man who called him "fatso".

Dixon, 53, denied punching and kicking the man during an altercation at a pub in May 2014. However, he was convicted following a trial after the assault at The Nags Head in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, was caught on CCTV.

Upon sentencing at Luton Crown Court, Judge Barbara Mensah described the attack as "shocking and sickening to watch".

Mensah said Kerry, who also played for Millwall and Luton Town during his career, had acted in a "disproportionate, unnecessary and completely over the top" manner.

"You were not just striking him, knocking him off his bar stool, but continuing to strike him when he was on the ground," she added. "Then you continued to pummel him on the ground."

Kerry claimed he had acted in self-defence as his victim, 38-year-old father-of-two Ben Scoble, was going to hit him with a face with a glass. He told the court he had suffered a similar attack in a pub 10 years ago, which he still has a scar from.

Dixon started his professional career at Reading before signing for Chelsea in 1983. He went on to score 147 goals for the Blues.

The striker was also capped by England eight times, scoring four goals.