|
April 18, 2002
(Saturday)
Woodgate denies
punching teenager
POLICE are
investigating an allegation that football star Jonathan
Woodgate punched a teenage drinker in the face.
The 18-year-old has made a signed statement to officers claiming that
the £9m Newcastle United and England player assaulted him.
Woodgate strenuously denies hitting Anthony Strange as he was leaving
the toilets of the Dickens Inn in his hometown of Middlesbrough.
The 23-year-old defender said: "I'm perfectly happy to co-operate
with the police in any way they wish. I have nothing to hide. I've
done nothing wrong."
A spokesman for Cleveland Police last night confirmed it was
investigating an allegation of assault at the pub.
Mr Strange, a student, alleged that he "wound up" Woodgate as the two
bumped into each other in the pub toilets at about 4pm on Tuesday.
The Middlesbrough fan told police he made a few "daft" comments to
Woodgate over his much publicised big money transfer from Leeds
United to St James Park earlier this year.
It is understood that Mr Strange, who was drinking with a friend,
stayed in the pub until later that night when he said he became
concerned about an injury to his face.
He went to Middlesbrough General Hospital for treatment but was found
to have just bruising. He then reported the alleged attack to police.
Mr Strange said: "I just said to Woodgate, 'You should have signed
for the Boro - they're a better team'. I was just winding him up. It
was just a laugh, just a daft joke."
Newcastle United Football Club declined to comment, but Woodgate's
agents, SFX Sports Group, insisted the allegation "has no foundation
whatsoever".
A spokesman said: "There are people who continue to make mischief for
Jonathan but all he is concerned about is making a substantial
contribution to the success of his career at Newcastle United."
A barmaid working at the Southfield Road pub on the day of the
alleged attack said she had seen no sign of trouble.
She said Woodgate was not a regular but she had seen him in the
pub "now and again".
He had been in the pub with a group of friends, none of whom were
footballers, and she had seen him drink three or four bottles of
alcopops.
The woman, who did not wish to be named, added: "He doesn't drink
that much. He didn't seem to cause any trouble. We didn't hear
anything."
Woodgate was cleared of a charge of grievous bodily harm but was
convicted of affray in connection with an attack on an Asian student
in Leeds city centre in 2000.
He was ordered to carry out 100 hours' community service, mainly
sweeping parks and painting fences at public buildings in
Middlesbrough. He was also fined eight weeks' wages - £112,000 - by
Leeds United chiefs.
Woodgate then set about putting his career back on track.
But in April last year he was taken to hospital with a fractured
cheekbone - suffered in "horseplay" with a friend, outside the
Dickens Inn, Middlesbrough.
Woodgate, who is single, still drinks with his friends in
Middlesbrough, where he was born and raised. He now has a home on
Tyneside where he is nearer to teammate and close friend Keiron Dyer.
¡@
Next article:
Woodgate injured as Toon slip into 4th Place
Previous article:
Woodgate "punch" quiz
<<
Back to New and Articles
¡@ |
