Footballer jailed for sex assault

[Ray. 217]

Footballer Marlon King has been jailed for 18 months for sexually assaulting a woman - and will be 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.

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 jury returned a 10-2 majority 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.

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.

'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."

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."

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.

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.

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 will now be in the process of severing his contract," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"To say the least, I am really, really disappointed."

Mr Whelan continued: "It's really upsetting and it just sets such a bad example for any youngster coming through who wants to be a professional footballer."

In 2002 King served five months of a two-year prison sentence for handling a stolen car before being released on appeal.

source - bbc.co.uk/sport

[terry26 6]

I read about this the other day and thought "what an idiot"

he's also have to add his name to the sex offenders registery

he was celebrating his wife's pregnancy by hitting on another woman - Class with a capital K

[Ray. 217]

Yes he is an idiot and it shows that he can't control his feelings and temper towards women. He'll most probably be labled a sex offender for the rest of his life.

[Kez 2,727]

He deserves everything he gets.

[Luke 60]

He wont play in the Premiership again thats for sure.

From the stories in the paper, he is an idiot, 'do you know who I am?'... Yeah, your a shit footballer playing well above your level, you also think its ok to abuse women when you dont get what you want.

I hope his stint inside makes him realise what an IDIOT he has been, he had it made, playing in the Premiership earning good money, he chose the glamourous lifestyle instead of working hard to be at the top of his game, which is a shame.

I also think its right that Wigan have sacked him, any random employer would have done, so a football club shouldnt be any different, these players are role models and I definately wouldnt want young Chelsea fans worshipping a player like King/Barton/Gerrard etc.

[Drogba11CFC 108]

He's a disgrace to football. Ban him for life, that's what I say.

[Rambo 1,729]

LMAOOOOOOOOO