This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/8332029.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Footballer jailed for sex assault | Footballer jailed for sex assault |
(20 minutes later) | |
Footballer Marlon King has been jailed for 18 months for sexually assaulting a woman - and has been sacked by Premier League club Wigan Athletic as a result. | Footballer Marlon King has been jailed for 18 months for sexually assaulting a woman - and has been sacked by Premier League club Wigan Athletic as a result. |
The striker was repeatedly "cold-shouldered" by the 20-year-old student in a bar in central London last December, Southwark Crown Court heard. | The striker was repeatedly "cold-shouldered" by the 20-year-old student in a bar in central London last December, Southwark Crown Court heard. |
He groped her and then punched her, leaving her with a broken nose. | He groped her and then punched her, leaving her with a broken nose. |
The father-of-three, from Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, had insisted it was a case of mistaken identity. | The father-of-three, from Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, had insisted it was a case of mistaken identity. |
The jury returned a unanimous verdict, however, and King was convicted of sexually assaulting the woman and causing actual bodily harm. | The jury returned a unanimous verdict, however, and King was convicted of sexually assaulting the woman and causing actual bodily harm. |
The assault happened at the Soho Revue Bar at a time when he was on loan with Hull City. | The assault happened at the Soho Revue Bar at a time when he was on loan with Hull City. |
King was celebrating two occasions - his wife's latest pregnancy and the scoring of a winning goal - with a night out in the West End. | King was celebrating two occasions - his wife's latest pregnancy and the scoring of a winning goal - with a night out in the West End. |
He was repeatedly "cold-shouldered" by women in the bar, the court heard. | He was repeatedly "cold-shouldered" by women in the bar, the court heard. |
'Gratuitous violence' | 'Gratuitous violence' |
Prosecution lawyer Roger Daniells-Smith said King had struck up a conversation with his victim by saying: "Don't you know who I am? I'm a millionaire." | Prosecution lawyer Roger Daniells-Smith said King had struck up a conversation with his victim by saying: "Don't you know who I am? I'm a millionaire." |
The court heard she replied: "I don't care who you are; take your millionaire self away from our table." | The court heard she replied: "I don't care who you are; take your millionaire self away from our table." |
He groped the woman and she told him: "Don't do that, it's not nice. Don't touch me." | He groped the woman and she told him: "Don't do that, it's not nice. Don't touch me." |
He is absolutely sacked. We will not tolerate football players who get sent to jail for 18 months Dave WhelanChairman, Wigan Athletic | |
King was warned off her again but he continued to stroke the woman's hair and then told her she was not in his league, the court heard. | King was warned off her again but he continued to stroke the woman's hair and then told her she was not in his league, the court heard. |
After she pushed him in the chest, King lost his temper and a moment of "completely gratuitous violence" led to him "smashing" the victim to the floor, jurors were told. | After she pushed him in the chest, King lost his temper and a moment of "completely gratuitous violence" led to him "smashing" the victim to the floor, jurors were told. |
Two other people standing beside him were also knocked away as a result of the force of the blow he inflicted. | Two other people standing beside him were also knocked away as a result of the force of the blow he inflicted. |
Several witnesses testified that King was responsible, despite his denial. | Several witnesses testified that King was responsible, despite his denial. |
They included a football coach who insisted the 29-year-old Jamaican international was the assailant. | They included a football coach who insisted the 29-year-old Jamaican international was the assailant. |
Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan said King "was finished with football" at the club. | |
"We have to follow the rules and regulations, which means we will have to give him 40 days' notice that his contract will be cancelled," he told Sky Sports News. | |
"He is absolutely sacked. We will not tolerate football players who get sent to jail for 18 months." |