WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES: 'Horrific' injuries caused to Rainford pupil by ex-Saints star Vila Matautia

THESE shocking pictures show the "horrific" injuries inflicted by former Saints forward Vila Matautia on a 15-year-old Rainford High pupil that he claimed had bullied his son.

Matautia, 48, of Laurel Road, West Park, avoided jail time yesterday, Thursday, July 19 after pleading guilty to assaulting Rainford High pupil Cole Olverson causing a broken nose, fractured cheek bone and severe bruising.

Instead Judge Steven Everett gave Matautia a seven-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

The assault took place behind the Golden Lion Hotel pub in Rainford at around 4.35pm on December 4, 2017.

Cole's devastated mum Joanne Olverson, said: "I am appalled because I think he's (Vila) got away with it because of the serious affect that night has had on my son who is only just coming to terms with the fact his dad Damien took his own life a year ago.

"He had only been going into school three days a week when this occurred because of that and met up with his friends near the pub before coming home to Bickerstaffe.

"He says he doesn't even know Vila's son, so it was a shock to him when Vila Matautia walked over to him and punched him - and he remembers him doing it a further five times even before going completely unconscious.

"He even said to Cole, 'if I find you've done anything again I'll cut you.'

"He could have killed him, I was horrified when I saw him just covered in blood.

"He's not a street wise kid, we live on a farm and this is a boy who lost his dad just under a year ago.

"He did not deserve to be put in the state that he was in.

"He even had to have an MRI scan because he still gets confused on occasion since this happened.

"I now have a 16-year-old who unlike his friends, is fearful to go out and has terrible anxiety and depression.

"Cole only completed his core GCSEs because of everything that went on and I blame Vila for that entirely.

"For all of those saying negative things, everyone - even at school - has said he is a lovely young man, but even if he had been a bully, this is not how you deal with it.

"If you think your child is being bullied you should go to the school and if nothing is done then go to the bullies parents.

"He could have killed my son and there is no excuse for that."

Matautia was also ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation and prosecution costs of £400.

A restraining order was imposed and Matautia must undertake 10 days of rehabilitation activity.

Mum-of-four Joanne, 35, added: "He didn't even get to see him get sentenced - even if we don't think it was right, the case was brought forward and he was sentenced without us being told.

"Victims support even said he needed that to move forward to see that justice was done."

For the full court report click here.