ANDY JENKINS has been banned from darts for a year following a fight with another player in Germany.

The Hampshire darts ace admitted punching Irishman Mick McGowan following a day of banter' at the Germany Open last November.

But the former Cosham bricklayer will only be away from the oche for three months after the PDC's Darts Regulatory Authority decided to suspend nine months of the ban.

Jenkins, nicknamed Rocky, has been in trouble with the DRA in the past but insists he reacted to a punch thrown by the Irishman who is becoming a familiar name on the PDC circuit.

Jenkins said: "I had an altercation with a certain darts player in Germany last November and one thing led to another and I have been banned.

"There was a bit of banter which went a little too far and he did not take it. He hit me and I hit him and that was it."

The incident was looked at by the DRA but they took no action against McGowan.

"Because I am Andy Jenkins and a naughty boy and he is not a naughty boy I have been used as a patsy," added Jenkins.

Full story in today's Daily Echo