Premier League - King jailed for assault on woman

PA Sport - Thu, 29 Oct 16:15:00 2009

Wigan Athletic striker Marlon King has been jailed for 18 months after being convicted of groping and punching a woman after she rejected his advances in a nightclub, breaking her nose.

2008-09 Premier League Hull City Marlon King (PA Photos) - 0

King, 29, was convicted of sexual assault and causing actual bodily harm by a jury at London's Southwark Crown Court. Wigan later said his club contract would be terminated.

The court heard how King, who was celebrating his wife's pregnancy and scoring a winning goal only hours earlier, was repeatedly cold-shouldered by women revellers in London's packed Soho Revue Bar last December.

The court was told that when the slightly-built university student rejected his advances, King, a father-of-three, replied "I'm just out of your league. I'm a millionaire".

She replied: "I don't care who you are, take your multi-millions and get away from our table".

Prosecutors said he then lost his temper and in an outburst of "completely gratuitous violence" lashed out, "smashing" her to the floor.

His single clenched fist blow was so powerful that two other revellers - one of them holding on to his arm - were also sent flying, the Press Association reported.

As friends helped the 20-year-old to her feet, blood poured from her shattered nose, the court heard.

The Jamaican international from Waltham Cross, north of London, claimed he was a victim of mistaken identity.

But after hearing evidence from a string of witnesses, including a football coach who insisted King was the assailant, the jury decided he was lying.

The court later heard King had been in the dock seven times since the age of 17, accused of motoring offences and violence against women.

"You have shown not a hint of shame at your disgraceful and arrogant behaviour," said Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith.

Referring to King's £35,000 weekly wage packet and the fact his contract will be revoked costing him more than £1 million, the judge added: "I appreciate this will cost you an enormous amount of money, but it is difficult to be sympathetic when you were boasting about your earnings in the way you did."

Although King was on loan at Premier League club Hull City at the time of the incident, Wigan released a statement saying the player's contract would be terminated with due notice.

"He is absolutely sacked. We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and as far as we are concerned he is finished football with Wigan Athletic," chairman Dave Whelan told Sky Sports.

"We have to follow the rules and regulations and we have given him 14 days' notice that his contract will be cancelled."

Wigan added in a statement on their website: "Although the club was aware of the incident at the time, it was not aware of the severity, and therefore believe that the sentence received is justification for the player's actions."

The judge told the player in addition to the jail sentence, he would have to register as a sex offender for seven years.

As the sentence was read out, several of King's supporters stormed from court swearing at the judge.

One, pointing at the judge, screamed: "This is a clear case of institutional racism. You should not be up there... Up the National Front. Heil Hitler."

Another, referring to footballer Steven Gerrard's acquittal for affray, shouted: "Look at you. You are all white. Steven Gerrard is still walking the streets."

Liverpool captain and England midfielder Gerrard was cleared in July of attacking a businessman in a fight over music being played in a bar last December.

King is the latest Premier League player to be jailed for violence on a night out.

In May 2008, Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton was jailed for six months after admitting to beating up a teenager.

PA Sport

Comment 357 - 376 of 376

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  1. "King - who has 13 previous convictions including­ one for violence against women"...The British­ 'justice' system is a complete joke! Well, it­ would be a joke if people's lives weren't being­ ruined by psychopaths that should've already been­ imprisoned years ago. I had no idea King was such scum.­ Britain should have the 3 convictions, of any criminal­ nature, equals a life term, like in America. Most­ people have zero convictions. Most offenders are repeat­ offenders and should be exterminated­ really.

    "King's wife Julie - a former Miss­ Zambia - has vowed to stand by her husband. Speaking to­ The Mirror from their mock-Tudor home in Goff's­ Oak, Hertfordshire, she said: "I'm standing by­ him because I love him and I know he is­ innocent.""...Sounds like she has the man she­ deserves. Scum!

    From Goatlips, on Sat 31 Oct 11:39AM

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    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Fri 30 Oct 6:57PM

  3. i bet he will play 4 bend over fc. any way some one­ will give him a slap!!!

    From lanesra, on Fri 30 Oct 5:10PM

  4. i hope a very big man !!!! slips him one in the shower­ with a lot of pain!!!! what a tw. at 25k a week no­ brain!!!

    From lanesra, on Fri 30 Oct 5:06PM

  5. good to see him jailed but it would have been better if­ it had of been 18 years why does he only hit women is­ he a wimp

    From stuarty2877, on Fri 30 Oct 4:52PM

  6. good to see him jailed but it would have been better if­ it had of been 18 years why does he only hit women is­ he a wimp

    From stuarty2877, on Fri 30 Oct 4:52PM

  7. kmortr 271 you should read your history rio ferdinand­ kicked a female stuard in the stomach ,in the tunnel at­ stamfor bridge , kicked a ball into his own fans at­ very high velocity! and avoide drugs test demands !­ allegedly

    From lemontreesid, on Fri 30 Oct 2:11PM

  8. It's a shame the bar didnt have CCTV to show him­ what he choose to forget after drinking ........­ can't believe he did the "Do you know who I­ am...." line..... SHOCKER !!

    From rsmith638, on Fri 30 Oct 10:27AM

  9. Karma's gonna get you marlon; right in the A­ hole!!! Ha Ha Ha, serves you right!

    From gag, on Fri 30 Oct 9:22AM

  10. He's doing the time for the crimes he has­ committed.
    It's got nothing to do institutional­ racism, he could have bright orange skin for all i care­ what he did was arrogant and disgraceful.

    From Martin, on Fri 30 Oct 8:57AM

  11. Donney you talk a load of @#$%.
    What's it like­ having an @#$% for a mouth?

    From Martin, on Fri 30 Oct 8:52AM

  12. One rule for the White Boys and another for the other­ boys. Go back and develop ur countries.

    From gboyega o, on Fri 30 Oct 8:43AM

  13. What a low life peice of scum!
    Considering this scumbag­ was on £35,000/week, I think the 20 year old victim­ deserves more compensation than £3,500.
    Hopefully no­ premier league or chamionship team will ever sign him­ up again.

    From Martin, on Fri 30 Oct 8:39AM

  14. Ledley King said something similar to a doorman when he­ was refused entry. He said 'do you know who i­ am?' Hopefully these footballers are starting to­ learn that knowone really gives a s*it who they are.

    From wobblay, on Fri 30 Oct 8:31AM

  15. THE PUNISHMENT FITS THE CRIME. DOESN'T MATTER WHO­ GOT AWAY WITH WHAT, PLS SEND HIM TO A JAIL IN AFRICA SO­ HE'LL KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN JAIL.

    From ebi s. n, on Fri 30 Oct 8:26AM

  16. I hope he serves the entire 18 months. If he's out­ any earlier than April 2011 it will be a disgrace.

    From wobblay, on Fri 30 Oct 8:26AM

  17. I SAY HE SHOULD GET 24 STROKES OF THE CANE EVERY­ MORNING IN ADDITION TO THE TIME

    From ebi s. n, on Fri 30 Oct 8:22AM

  18. HELOOOOOOO DA MAY DONNEY BABAY.
    SCOUSE BABAY LOVES­­ YE.
    A­­ FINKIN ABOOT YAA MAY BABAY...
    I MISH ME MAY­­ BABAY­­ VERAY MACH!

    OM WET FOR YEE BABAY!

    KASS KASS­­­ HUG HUG!

    I´m very­ F.R.U.S.T.R.A.T.E.D!!! My next­­ flight is tomorrow early­ in the morning
    and DONNEY is­­ NOT in the­ "HOUSE"!!!

    From Scouse-Baby, on­ Tue 27 Oct 9:38PM

    Donney Baby where were you??? I was­ starting to get worried...

    From Scouse-Baby, on Fri 30 Oct 8:15AM

  19. Marlon King gets 18 months for an assault on a woman­ and has to register as a sex offender for 7 years. He­ got what he deserves but when you see Steven Gerrard­ walking free and Joey Barton only serving 70 days of a­ 6 month sentance and given a four months suspended­ sentence for something that could be considerd­ attempted murder, institutional racism? And he also­ stubbed out an cigar in someones eye. I have got­ slightly side tracked from the initial post but why the­ hell is Joey Barton still playing football, let alone­ walking the streets a free man?
    __________________

    From Habib, on Fri 30 Oct 8:12AM

  20. should have got Gerrard to defend him he would of got­ off easy !!

    From neil g, on Fri 30 Oct 8:10AM
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