First football, now rugby league!
Four rugby league players have been warned they could face a lengthy spell in jail for brawling in Leeds.
Leeds Rhinos Chev Walker, Ryan Bailey and Dwayne Barker, and Rochdale Hornet Paul Owen, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a previous hearing.
Ryan Bailey & Chev Walker
The judge, Paul Batty QC, will sentence all four on Tuesday.
He said: "One thing which shines out loud and clear, and is the real serious aspect of it, is the putting in of the boot to people on the ground to the upper body.
"I think you must understand this court is considering custodial sentences of some length."
The court heard how the brawl began after Owen was "tricked" into handing over his mobile phone to an unidentified woman outside the Creation nightclub.
As he tried to recover it, the Leeds players thought she was being assaulted and set about Owen.
A four minute video of the brawl was played which showed the Leeds players trading kicks and blows with Owen.
At one point Owen is seen to punch Barker to the ground, and as he struggles to regain his feet, is kicked in the head and knocked out.
In mitigation David Bradshaw said Walker was full of remorse and his actions were totally out of character.
Jonathan Carroll for Owen said his client did not go looking for a fight and had suffered a "momentary loss of temper".
David Hall for Bailey said his client "shuddered with shame" every time he watched the video of the fight.
Simon Hickey said Barker was the only one to suffer a serious injury which sidelined him for 10 weeks and hit him financially.
Both Bailey and Walker have been selected to play for Great Britain later this year.
Four rugby league players have been warned they could face a lengthy spell in jail for brawling in Leeds.
Leeds Rhinos Chev Walker, Ryan Bailey and Dwayne Barker, and Rochdale Hornet Paul Owen, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a previous hearing.
Ryan Bailey & Chev Walker
The judge, Paul Batty QC, will sentence all four on Tuesday.
He said: "One thing which shines out loud and clear, and is the real serious aspect of it, is the putting in of the boot to people on the ground to the upper body.
"I think you must understand this court is considering custodial sentences of some length."
The court heard how the brawl began after Owen was "tricked" into handing over his mobile phone to an unidentified woman outside the Creation nightclub.
As he tried to recover it, the Leeds players thought she was being assaulted and set about Owen.
A four minute video of the brawl was played which showed the Leeds players trading kicks and blows with Owen.
At one point Owen is seen to punch Barker to the ground, and as he struggles to regain his feet, is kicked in the head and knocked out.
In mitigation David Bradshaw said Walker was full of remorse and his actions were totally out of character.
Jonathan Carroll for Owen said his client did not go looking for a fight and had suffered a "momentary loss of temper".
David Hall for Bailey said his client "shuddered with shame" every time he watched the video of the fight.
Simon Hickey said Barker was the only one to suffer a serious injury which sidelined him for 10 weeks and hit him financially.
Both Bailey and Walker have been selected to play for Great Britain later this year.
