Boulevard Blazers captain Shakai Crockwell was unable to convince Appeals Court judges to reduce his sentence after he beat up a prisons officer.

Crockwell pleaded guilty for the offence, which he committed with another, un-named man three years ago. The other man was sentenced to four years imprisonment, while Crockwell was sentenced to three years incarceration. He protested that sentence in Appeals Court yesterday. Saying he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the attack and swept up in the moment, Crockwell said the attack was a one-off incident which would never be repeated.

?I am a productive young man of society,? the football captain said. ?This happened three years ago, I am getting my life back together ... It is something that happened one night, in one split second. I am deeply remorseful?

?I could do good things in sports, I would be a productive role model for children. I have a four-year old son who is starting primary school ? he needs his father for this crucial time.?

While in prison he has already completed his GED and enrolled in Drug and Violent Offenders programmes, he said. ?I am doing positive things with my time.?

But when he added: ?I am just trying to break the cycle of young black men going to prison,? Justice Austin Ward replied: ?You can only be sent to prison if you break the law, not because you are black.?

And president of the Court of Appeals Edward Zacca said, especially in light of the officer?s injuries, which left him nearly blind in one eye: ?Sorry comes too late.?

?I guess I was advised wrongly to come here and try to appeal,? a dejected Crockwell said. ?I am sorry for wasting the court?s time.?