Gunner Get A Driving Ban: Arsenal FC Star Caught Behind Wheel After Boozy Night Out

A young Arsenal star crashed through signs and a wooden fence in his brand-new Range Rover Sport while twice the drink-drive limit after birthday vodka celebrations.

Chuba Amechi Akpom, 22, who has 45 England Youth caps, lost control at a roundabout near his home at 4.50am and mounted a grass verge as an off-duty policeman watched.

The six-foot centre-forward, of Wayside, Barnet Road, Barnet, was fined £9,350, with £85 costs and disqualified for seventeen months on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates Court to driving the black 3-litre diesel automatic with 72 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath on December 17, last year.

The legal limit is 35.

Akpom has made ten first-team appearances for Arsenal and had loan spells with Brentford; Coventry City; Nottingham Forest; Hull City and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Prosecutor Mr. Zahid Hussain told the court Akpom, who signed his first pro contract with the Gunners the day after his seventeenth birthday, was driving near his home in Barnet Road.

“His driving was erratic and he was observed by an off-duty police officer. He was parallel to a Shell petrol station and lost control, mounting the grass verge.

“He crashed into roadside furniture then drove back towards the road and into a heavy-duty fencing, knocking it down and out of the ground.

“He caused extensive damage to his Range Rover and left considerable debris strewn around the road.”

Akpom failed a roadside breath-test and was taken to Colindale Police Station, from where he returned home by taxi.

His lawyer Mr. Aki Achillea told the court Akpom’s father feared the worst when he saw the damaged vehicle near the family home.

“His father woke up later and found the crashed car outside the gate with no driver and for a moment he was seriously concerned about what had happened to his son.

“He was about to ring hospitals and the police, fearing his son, being a high-profile footballer, had been abducted so this has effected the family as well.

“He has let himself down and made a dreadful mistake for a boy that has always been so disciplined.

“He succumbed to temptation. He went out with friends and they had a meal in the West End and after drinking only cranberry juice he drove to a club in Watford.

“Celebrating a friend’s twenty-first birthday he was drinking cranberry juice when he stupidly agreed for vodka to be put into his glass.

“He tells me he had two glasses and the cranberry juice disguised the taste of the vodka. For someone who does not drink alcohol it does have an effect.

“He clearly should have taken a taxi home, but it is not anything he considered because he has not done this before.

“He accepts he was not in a fit state to drive and lost control at a roundabout near his home.

“He lives very close to the club’s training ground and there have been discussions with Arsene Wenger about loaning him out and that could be anywhere in England.

“He will be in a place he doesn’t know and will be unable to drive. He will have to ensure there is someone who can drive him around and his movements will be curtailed by that burden.

“It will have an onerous effect on him, considering the risk to his safety and well-being.” 

The court heard Akpom has been with Arsenal since he was seven years-old . “The dream of most young children is to grow up and become a professional footballer,” added the lawyer.

“Very few achieve that dream and even less to the extent that they become part of a Premier League football squad as this defendant is.

“In the days of billion pound deals, where a football club can recruit footballers from all over the world it is a fact this defendant is part of the first team squad at Arsenal.

“This defendant goes to work with international footballers as he makes his way to joining these players.

“He has made enormous sacrifices, as has his family, and his father sits in court today. There were considerable burdens for the family to get their young protege to matches.

“Football has dominated his entire life and with those great rewards he realises there comes responsibility.”

Cocaine Teen's Custody Blow

A drug-dealing teenager has been locked-up for three-and-a-half years after he was caught with cocaine in north London.

Matthew Shrubsole, 19, of Campion Road, Hatfield, Hertfordshire also had a large quantity of incriminating cash on him and a small knife.

He was arrested on the busy Mays Lane, Barnet on April 13, 2016 and there was a police appeal for his whereabouts after he went to ground three months later.

Once located he appeared at Hendon Magistrates Court charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine; possession of cocaine with intent to supply and simple posession of the drug.

Shrubsole was also charged with possessing criminal property, namely a quantity of money and the knife.

The case was sent to Harrow Crown Court, where he was sentenced to serve time at a Young Offenders Institution.

Violent Hair-Pull Woman Jailed

Devonshire Terrace

A violent woman has been jailed for three months for grabbing another woman's hair, shaking her and kicking her in a Paddington street.

Claire Gwendoline McMahon, 41, had always contested the case and was even charged with jumping bail during the court proceedings.

She was convicted that on September 14, 2016 she assaulted Celine Orthlieb in Devonshire Terrace.

McMahon originally entered a not guilty plea in March, last year and eventually came to trial in November.

She was already serving a sentence of fourteen weeks imprisonment and the three months was ordered to run concurrently to that so she will not be locked-up for extra time.

McMahon was also ordered to pay £400 compensation to the victim and a collection order was made.

Bowling Lane Attack: Trio Hunted

Police are hunting these three late-night suspects after a doorman at a high-end bowling alley was slashed to the head and face.

The 42 year-old security supervisor was approached by the trio at All Star Lanes, Porchester Gardens, Bayswater at 2.45am on October 29.

Following a brief altercation, the victim was violently assaulted and sustained multiple cuts and slashes to his head and face.

He was taken to a central London hospital for medical treatment.

He has now been discharged.

Detective Constable Tom Aylward, of Westminster's Serious Crime Unit said: "This was a shockingly violent attack on a door supervisor who was just trying to do his job.

“There is no justification for such violence and it is only by good fortune that his injuries were not more serious.

"It is very important that these men are identified as soon as possible so that we can speak with them about the assault."

Anyone who can assist in identifying either of the men pictured is asked to call Westminster CID via 101.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Homophobic Polish Thug Jailed For Leg-Break Attack

A gay-hating Polish thug, who left a man he attacked in the street with four fractures to his leg, had been locked-up for ten years.

Kamil Wladyslaw Snios, 29, of Stamford Road, Tottenham singled out the 36 year-old victim near his home at 10.40pm on July 16.

He was convicted at Wood Green Crown Court of inflicting grievous bodily harm

The victim was on his way to local shops with a friend when he was approached by Snios.

Snios shouted at them in polish and then slapped and kicked the victim hard enough for him to fall onto the floor.

Once down, Snios continued to kick the man as he tried to crawl away and slapped his friend beside him who was in shock.

Sinos then took a packet of cigarettes out of the rear pocket of the man’s trousers and held it above him as a trophy to show his friends, who were nearby.

The victim was taken to a north London hospital and treated for four fractures to his right leg.

Officers from Haringey arrested Sinos and during his interview he made a number of homophobic remarks, sighting this as a reason he attacked the men.

Detective Constable Mark Nicholls from Haringey CID, said: “We are pleased to have secured this sentencing for a needless, unprovoked and sustained assault that left the victim seriously injured and frightened.

“It is evident that the Met will not tolerate homophobic attacks and will work to bring offenders to justice.”

Acid Attacker Arthur Collins Caught With Mobile Phone By Prison Officers

Jailed acid attacker Arthur Collins has been caught hiding a mobile phone, two sim cards, a pair of chargers and two USB's in a crutch at HMP Thameside.

The 25 year-old, recently sentenced to twenty years imprisonment for injuring fourteen people at Hackney's Mangle nightclub, appeared via videolink at Bromley Magistrates Court.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited item and will be sentenced on a later date.

The offence was committed while he was on remand awaiting trial at Wood Green Crown Court, where he was convicted of nine counts of causing actual bodily harm and five counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

He is now serving his sentence at top-security HMP Belmarsh, from where he appeared on videolink.

On Sunday September 10 prison custody officers searched Collins' cell and examined a crutch he had been using for an ankle injury.

The officer removed the rubber stopper from the bottom of the crutch and located a mobile phone with a sim card.

A further sim card and two chargers were found inside the crutch and in the handle officers also found two USBs.

All the items were seized and checked.

No calls or messages were stored on the phone, but the sim cards contained evidence of calls and messages between Collins and family.

Web Entrepreneur Attacked Girlfriend At £2m Apartment

Court Date: Sardine

A privately-educated playboy, whose £17m photo messaging app Fling collapsed earlier this year, attacked his girlfriend during a row over his ex sleeping-over at his luxury Thames side apartment. 

Marco Nardone, 29, the son of a millionaire wine merchant, dragged girlfriend Toni Allcock by the hair and kicked her in the stomach at the £2m flat.

Nardone, who was educated at £36,000- year Charterhouse, and is a physics graduate of Imperial College London appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Allcock at the flat in Distillery Wharf, Regatta Lane, Hammersmith on December 12 and was bailed for sentencing on January 18.

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Bryan told the court Ms Allcock was unhappy about Nardone’s ex-girlfriend staying at the flat while she was away.

Eventually the row turned violent, explained the prosecutor. “It was quite a sustained assault.

“He grabs her by the neck with both his hands and she was shouting: ‘Leave me alone.’

“He slapped her across the face and she managed to get out of the flat’s front door into the communal hallway.

“He locked her out of the flat and she banged on the door, demanding to be allowed back in.

“She tried to press the block’s concierge bell in the hallway, but Mr. Nardone prevented her doing that by covering the bell with his hand.

“She made for the lift and he followed her and dragged her back towards the flat by her hair.

“Again she made for the lift and CCTV shows Mr. Nardone blocking the lift’s doors from closing and he kicked her in the stomach and she fell to the floor.” 

The magistrates - sitting in a specific domestic violence court - felt the offence was so serious a pre-sentence probation report was necessary.

Nardone’s app Fling - which allowed users to send photos to random people - was effectively hijacked by sexting and never made a penny.

He was backed by dad Remo, 81, owner of Enotria Winecellars, who reportedly gave him £1.5m when aged 23 to develop the app.

Nardone was the chief executive of Fling, which at its height claimed to have four million users , who sent fifty million messages.

However, while the app struggled to turn a profit for investors, estimated to have ploughed in £17m, Nardone featured his party lifestyle on his Instagram account, which included holidays in Ibiza, fine dining and relaxing at the riverside apartment.

The company is believed to be in administration, owing twitter £120,000; Google over £45,000 and £95,000 to the taxman.

Ex-Solicitor Back In Court

A troubled former solicitor, who has repeatedly been in trouble due to a drink problem, has been sentenced for damaging a police cell after yet another alcohol-related arrest.

Ofra Azar-Freedman, 52, who claimed to be homeless, is known to have owned a £785,000 four-bedroom house in Tenterden Drive, Hendon in the heart of north London's Jewish community.

She appeared in the dock at Hendon Magistrates Court again in the same building the Family Law specialist had represented clients during her twenty-five year career.

Azar-Freedman started her own law firm in 2010, but records show it has been dissolved.

She pleaded guilty to one count of causing £126.96 worth of criminal damage to a cell she was confined in at Colindale Police Station on October 18.

Azar-Freedman had been arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly at Barnet General Hospital earlier the same day.

She was sentenced to a community order, which includes a probation-ordered rehabilitation activity requirement of up to twenty days.

She was also ordered to pay £126 compensation at the rate of £10.00 per week.

Housing Benefit Cheat Sentenced

Hendon Magistrates Court

A benefit cheat enjoyed over two years of rent-free living when swindling in excess of £30,000 in housing benefit while holding down secret employment.

Rhodora Sastrillo, 40, of Grange House, Harlesden Road, Harlesden did not declare she had commenced paid work.

She pleaded guilty at Hendon Magistrates Court that between April 1, 2013 and July 26, 2015 she dishonestly failed to notify a change of circumstances effecting entitlemtn to a social security benefit.

The total loss was £31,548.43.

Sastrillo was sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge.

No compensation was ordered because there is a voluntary arrangement in place to repay the money.

The court ordered no costs due to Sastrillo's lack of means, but she must pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Happy Christmas To Our Readers

Thank-you for continuing to visit our important news site througout the year.

Today we would like to wish all our followers and new readers all over the world a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.

We will endevour to bring the best news coverage from London's courts to you all throughout 2018 as we have done for the last decade.

Wishing you, your family and friends a truly wonderful day.

Rapist Plied Teen Schoolgirl With Booze In Hotel Room

A sexual predator, who plied a 16 year-old girl was booze in a hotel room and raped her, is starting a five-and-a-half year prison sentence.

Arif Khan, 27, was convicted at the Old Bailey of raping the schoolgirl at the hotel in Edmonton, north London on February 20, last year.

Three days after the rape it was reported to the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences (CASO) Team.

Six days later Khan attended Edmonton police station to hand himself in.

He admitted he had had sex with the victim, but claimed it had been consensual.

Detective Inspector Laura Hillier of CASO said: "My officers thoroughly investigated this allegation and DC Lisa Briggs supported the young victim through a trial.

“This is a clear example of a common feature of child sexual exploitation (CSE) where a child is taken to a hotel and offences take place.

“In many cases such as this one, the young person does not recognise the dangers or see themselves as a victim. It is for this reason that CSE remains underreported.

"Police and partners, but also the wider community, need to be alert to the warning signs.

“CSE is a hidden crime and we all have a responsibility to keep our children and young people safe from harm.

“Operation Makesafe is a Met initiative which encourages the local business sector, taxi, hotels and fast food retailers to be aware of the warning signs of CSE and thus assist us in the prevention, detection and safeguarding of those at risk."

AirPlus Boss Swindled Thousands From Company

Isleworth Crown Court

The office manager at a West London business travel management company, charged with swindling £95,716, has been sentenced.

Sewain Francis, 37, of Fairclough Close, Northolt, was a boss at AirPlus International - an award-winning payment firm.

They are based in Chiswick Park, Chiswick High Road.

Francis was originally charged with fraud by abuse of position between November 5, 2014 and September 28, 2015 by dishonestly abusing his position of office manager to make a gain, namely £95, 716.87.

At Isleworth Crown Court Francis was sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment, suspended for two years and ordered to complete 225 hours community service.

Maggie's Club Assault: Man Sentenced

A young man has been sentenced for attacking another at the eighties-themed private members Maggie's Club during New Year celebrations.

Freddie Jan Sandberg, 25, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Nicholas Ropner at the boutique venue in Fulham Road, West Brompton on January 1, this year.

Sandberg, of Romney House, Marsham Street, Pimlico originally appeared at Hammersmith Magistrates Court, which sent him to Isleworth Crown Court.

He was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and ordered to complete 200 hours community service.

Sandberg must also pay £5,000 compensation to the injured Mr. Ropner.

WPC Caught Drink-Driving During Midnight Ciggie Run

A drink-driving policewoman was caught after she cut-up an unmarked police car during a midnight dash to buy cigarettes.

When the two officers tried to pull over Sian Coles, 34, she collided with a parked car, ripping off its wing mirror and damaging her own vehicle.

The Lambeth Borough PC, of Seward Road, Beckenham, pleaded guilty today to driving her Toyota Yaris in Elmers End Road on December 6 with 73 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Bromley Magistrates Court heard she was just over twice the limit and she was fined £600 and disqualified for eighteen months.

She confessed to drinking two large glasses of wine minutes before to deal with the stress of an assault case against her, of which she was ultimately acquitted two days later.

Prosecutor Miss Sophie Akister told the court it was 11.45pm when plain-clothed officers in an unmarked police car spotted Coles behind the wheel.

“They noticed she failed to look at a junction and pulled out into a main road into the path of the officers, causing them to stop sharply.

“They put on their blue lights, but the Yaris speeded up so they put on their siren, which seemed to make the vehicle slow down.

“As the Yaris slowed it collided with a parked car, taking the wing mirror off.”

When questioned at the roadside Coles said: “Yes, I think I clipped it. I know what happens, I’m a copper.”

Ms Alister added: “There was a long scratch running along her passenger-side door and the wheel arch and she said she had a drink and was going to see her boyfriend in Croydon.

“She said she had two large glasses of wine before leaving home two minutes before.”

Coles failed the roadside breath-test and was taken to Bromley Police Station. “She said she was embarrassed and was sorry to everyone and was tearful.”

Her lawyer Kevin Baumber told the court: “The circumstances are extraordinary and tragic and came at a time when Ms Cole was under considerable stress.

“There was an incident several months before, when in the course of her duty, dealing with a breach of the peace and in pushing away that suspect she was facing trial for common assault.

“Fortunately there was a body-worn camera, which showed the incident she was dealing with.”

Coles was found not guilty of assault after a trial at City of London Magistrates Court on December 8.

“She was coping badly, if coping at all and there was a falling out with her partner.

“She was a single-mum before and she is a single-mum again.

“The camel’s back was broken by that straw,” added Mr. Baumber. “She went out to get cigarettes and the distance was very short.”

The court heard a counsellor has assessed Coles’ anxiety at 21/21 and her depression at 25/27.

“She is in counselling in relation to the stress and strain of the trial she was facing.

“It is tragic for her, facing the fear of losing a dearly beloved career, by doing something when her judgement was impaired.

“Her career is in jeopardy. This case will have a considerable effect on her.”

Coles, who is currently on restrictive duties, was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Sex Pest Who Breached Suspended Sentence Goes Unpunished

Isleworth Crown Court

A betting shop sex pest, caught by police with cannabis in a bookies while under a suspended prison sentence, has completed no rehab for molesting a female employee a court heard today.

Feisal Khan, 37, was arrested on October 9 in an Ealing branch of Paddy Power, from which he was barred, and pleaded guilty to possessing a small quantity of the drug.

He was sent to Isleworth Crown Court for sentencing because the offence placed him in breach of a six month suspended prison sentence imposed a fortnight earlier on August 23.

Khan had to keep out of trouble for two years after he was convicted of sexually assaulting the female betting shop employee he kissed and attempted to hug as she left work.

The court heard as he was questioned by police just 19 days after that sentencing he dropped a small wrap of cannabis.

Today, Judge Jonathan Ferris asked why Khan had failed to complete any of the 60 days rehabilitation he was ordered to after the sex assault conviction.

“It is just inadequate, full stop. He has only been required to attend one out of sixty occasions and my question is with the probation service.

“He does not have much to comply with,” added the judge, who was told the rehab programme was too “overcrowded” for Khan to attend.

“He's got a poor record,” said Judge Ferris, who heard Khan has two previous drug convictions, plus another sexual assault conviction for touching a male.

The suspended sentence was not activated and Khan was ordered to pay just a £25 fine for breaching it.

He remains on the sex offenders register for seven years.

Natural Born Giller: Boyfriend Wipes Out Partner's Koi Carp

A “mean and nasty” boyfriend cruelly killed his partner’s cherished collection of koi carp by emptying five litres of toxic cleaning fluid into her garden pond.

The distraught woman, 63, and her shocked daughter, 29, desperately tried to save the expensive fish, which were bleeding heavily from their mouths and gills, by carrying them up to their bathtub.

Only six of the thirty fish - some of which she owned for three decades - were saved and they have been left blinded by the attack.

Bicycle mechanic Ian Perkins, 53, pleaded guilty to causing approximately £10,000 worth of criminal damage to Diane Kenton’s koi collection.

On Tuesday he received four months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and must undergo 29 behavioural therapy sessions and a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

“This was a mean and nasty offence,” Isleworth Crown Court Judge Robin Johnson told Perkins. “Not only were you cruel to these animals, but to your partner of many years, knowing the affection she held for them.”

The court heard Perkins, who is now living with pals in The Parade, High Street, Cowley, returned to Ms Kenton’s home in Bourne Avenue, Hayes on June 17 after they enjoyed a night out.

She was annoyed at him texting in the back garden and said she would not join him the next day for the annual British Heart Foundation London to Brighton Bike Ride.

“He went to the garden shed and came back with a five-litre container of cleaning fluid and poured the whole contents into the pond,” said prosecutor Mrs Sue Obeney.

“The fish are considered part of the family and Ms Kenton’s son has a business off the back of it.

“There was a panic and Ms Kenton called her daughter Charlie Kenton-O’Neill and with the help of neighbours they tried to transfer the fish into their bath.”

Afterwards Ms Kenton said: “That night Ian destroyed the pool lives heavily with me. I’m still reduced to tears when I think about it.

“There was blood everywhere, from their mouths and gills, and it is terrible to think about.

“I believe my six surviving fish are blind, their eyes are white. I have been left feeling vulnerable, lonely and very hurt.

“It’s unforgivable and has destroyed a big part of me.”

Her daughter Charlie said: “On the night and for weeks after it was horrendous. The initial shock is still sickening.

“It was like losing a family member, we have shed tears and people have brought us flowers.

“My mother was screaming and crying like I’ve never seen before as the bath filled with blood. We have not had a bath since that night.

“I was in the pitch black, in foam desperately trying to save the fish an since I have been cleaning blood off the stained walls and floors.

“The stairs and landing carpet is still bloodstained and there was a terrible smell of dead fish. It’s upsetting, cruel and shocking.”

She said Perkins: “Reluctantly carried fish upstairs slowly and carelessly,” and the family considered installing CCTV out of fear of him returning to injure more family pets.

Perkins, who begged his ex to drop the case and was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation, told the court: “I’m sorry for it all happening. I’m here to admit my guilt.”

NOT GUILTY: Humanitarian Entrepreneur Cleared Of Historic Sex Abuse

A globetrotting humanitarian entrepreneur, who has worked with the Red Cross and Save the Children, has been cleared of molesting a 14 year-old boy in a grotty King’s Cross hotel room three decades ago.

Former Scarborough resident Jeff Eames, 74, the CEO of non-profit travel organisation TARA International, says nothing happened during the trip.

He was eventually found not guilty of indecently assaulting the teenager and procuring an act of gross indecency on August 6, 1983 while sharing a hotel room bed.

The verdicts came after two contested jury trials at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Eames, of Bradley Avenue, London, Ontario, Canada had travelled from North Yorkshire that day for the NFL’s first-ever Wembley Stadium game, a pre-season clash between the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Cardinals.

Prosecutor Mr. John Livingstone told the jury during the first trial: “The boy was very reluctant to get into bed at all and Mr. Eames told him not to worry.

“He says he was anxious and scared and positioned himself as close to the edge of the bed as he could.

“The defendant brought his body close to him and kissed him and the defendant then performed oral sex on him.

“That was something the boy did not want to do.”

Eames then encouraged the youngster to perform as sex act on him, the court heard.

“He was petrified by what had happened and didn’t know what to do and did not report it at the time.”

The complainant, now aged 48, told the jury: “Every time I travel to King’s Cross from Yorkshire there’s a fear, it’s terrible, even yesterday.”

Fighting back the tears he said: “It was so surreal, he got closer and closer to me and I’m thinking: ‘What’s going on here?’

“I remember feeling his horrible hairy chest on me. I remember being turned on to my back and it is a trigger I have to this day.

“It was like a paralysis and he did it in a coaxing way, not a violent way.

“Afterwards he said: ‘There you go. Welcome to my world. You can now enjoy having sex with boys as well as girls.’

“That has damaged me more than most. It has had a lasting impact and he said it was like an initiation.”

Years later the complainant heard Eames was visiting the UK for a short time. “I’d heard he had cancer and hoped he’d died.

“How dare he just walk back into Scarborough. I’d just had it, I couldn’t take it anymore, couldn’t run away anymore and reported him to North Yorkshire Police.”

The witness said he even feared for his own son’s safety while Eames was in town.

When arrested he confirmed they stayed in a hotel, but denied anything happened apart from the complainant asking for a “cuddle” which Eames refused.

Eames was Past President of the Canadian Red Cross’s London, Ontario branch from May, 2010 to May, 2013 and a consultant to the Pathy Family Foundation from 2009 to 2012.

He was an advisor to CARE International UK between 1997 and 1999 and to Save the Children between 2004 and 2006 and in August, 2012 received the queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Governor General of Canada.

Suspended Sentence For Abuse

A Suffolk man has received a suspended prison sentence after he admitted verbally abusing a victim he is now banned from contacting.

Brett O'Leary, 46, of Hermitage Close, Clare, Sudbury, who is no stranger to the police, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Friday.

He had already admitted the offence when he appeared at Hendon Magistrates Court, which committed him to the Crown Court.

O'Leary pleaded guilty to the racially/religiously aggravated harassment, without violence, of Robert Austin at an address in Southway, Southgate on May. 19.

He was sentenced to thirty-two weeks imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months.

O'Leary must also complete two Probation Service rehabilitation programmes, one lasting twenty-five days and the other fifty days.

He was also made subject to a restraining order, prohibiting contact with Mr. Austin. 

Footballer Guilty Of Nightclub Punch That Left Passer-By With Bleed On Brain

Chichester City FC star Josh Clack was convicted yesterday of delivering a devastating KO punch outside a nightclub when a lone passer-by was picked-on by his pals.

The 24 year-old winger was told by the judge it was “only good luck” that the victim, who suffered bleeding on the brain and two facial fractures, survived.

Semi-pro Clack, of Oakwood Close, Midhurst, West Sussex was convicted by a Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm on 20 year-old Kieran Smithers.

Bailing him until sentencing on January 17 Judge Stephen John told him: “I’m adjourning sentencing for a pre-sentence report.

“The fact I am doing so and renewing your bail is not an indication of sentence. Custody is not only uppermost in my mind, but it is almost inevitable you are going to prison.

“This was a serious offence and at no stage have you expressed any remorse for this offence.”

The jury returned an 11-1 majority verdict that Clack was not defending himself when he struck the blow just after 3am outside Guildford’s Casino nightclub on October 18, 2015.

He had already consumed a beer, two vodkas and two other drinks during a night out with a group of pals, one of whom playfully startled Mr. Smithers.

The complainant pushed back in surprise and was backed-up by two concerned off-duty soldiers as the incident escalated. 

“In the second incident the prosecution say Josh Clack deliberately punched Kieran Smithers in the face or head, causing really serious harm,” said prosecutor Mr. John Coates.

“He had a fracture above his left eye and a fracture of his nasal bone and a blood-filled swelling to the back of his head.”

Mr. Smithers spent 9-10 days in hospital, where a CT scan showed he also had bleeding inside the brain.

Clack fractured his hand delivering the punch and it was still in a cast when he was questioned by police.

Clack hid the truth from medical staff at Chichester’s St. Richard’s Hospital, claiming that he suffered the injury when punching a wall.

He told officers. “I said I punched a wall. I did not want to look bad, I know a lot of people in Chichester, I play football for Chichester.”

“I’ll let him go home for Christmas,” announced Judge John after the verdict. “It’s only good luck this man did not die.

“He had bleeding on the brain and if he had died this would have been a verdict of manslaughter.

“He’s almost inevitably going inside.”

Clack told the jury he is not a violent person or a heavy drinker, yet has a police caution for assault and a drink-drive conviction.

His lawyer Piers Power said: “I ask your Honour to consider all sentencing options. I accept this case crosses the custodial threshold.

“Two years have passed without any misbehaviour and there may be room to avoid a custodial sentence.”