Etuhu Jailed 8 Months For Assault

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSdwddjdKj_Kq-f-QecRou6eZ-usq96x_S72bMUBvwFyZRFLpgvhk7MLQManchester City footballer has been jailed for a fight in the street which left a man with a broken jaw.

Striker Kelvin Etuhu, 22, previously admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.

He was caught on CCTV kicking Owen Fitzpatrick three times after knocking him to the ground with a punch outside Manchester's 235 Casino last February.

Etuhu, of Abbeycroft Close, Astley, Wigan, was sentenced to eight months in prison at Warrington Crown Court.

In sentencing, Judge Hale told Etuhu: "You brought yourself up by your bootstraps, you and your family, having come here from Nigeria with nothing but your talent, grit and determination.

"That is a great credit to you and your family and you have blown it."

The footballer is the younger brother of Dickson Etuhu, who plays for Fulham.

Single punch
His brother was in the public gallery with their mother, another brother and relatives.

Earlier, the court was told Etuhu had been released from his contract at Manchester City, in part due to the criminal proceedings.

Peter Cadwallader, for the prosecution, told the court the violence started from a "very minor" dispute inside the casino which ended when Mr Fitzpatrick, 24, and two friends were asked to leave the venue.

The three men then waited outside for Etuhu and his friend Rico Richards, 27, to emerge.

The court heard the three men confronted Etuhu as he got into his BMW car, which Richards was driving.

Etuhu finally got out of the car and launched the attack.

The court heard how the player felled Mr Fitzpatrick with a single punch and, when he was on the ground, kicked him three times and inflicted the broken jaw.
Mirror:
PREMIER League striker Kelvin Etuhu was jailed for eight months yesterday for breaking a man’s jaw in a drunken street brawl.
The former Manchester City star, 22, wept as he was sentenced for attacking Owen Fitzpatrick after a row in a casino.
He was caught on camera flooring his victim with a punch before kicking him three times as he lay on the ground.
Judge David Hale told Etuhu he had shattered his hard-earned reputation. He said: “You brought yourself up by your bootstraps, you and your family, having come here from Nigeria with nothing but your talent, grit and determination. That is a great credit to you and your family and you have blown it.” Etuhu, whose brother Dickson plays for Premier League side Fulham, attacked Mr Fitzpatrick, 24, outside Manchester’s 235 casino in February last year. Prosecutor Peter ­Cadwallader told Warrington crown court the trouble flared after a minor dispute inside.
Mr Fitzpatrick and two friends were asked to leave. They waited outside for Etuhu and friend Rico Richards, 27, to emerge. A row broke out and the boozed-up ­footballer “completely lost the plot” and lashed out. Richards also knocked Mr ­Fitzpatrick’s friend Matthew Tryer, 26, to the ground.
Advertisement - article continues below »
Etuhu was so riled he even pushed over his girlfriend as he tried to get to his target. After the attack, the player and Richards fled in a car.
John Broadley, defending, said: “What took place was a disgraceful blot on Mr Etuhu’s character.
“He has no background of violence, no dishonesty, no trouble. He is unlikely ever to repeat this sort of behaviour.”
Etuhu, of Wigan, Lancs, admitted ABH and affray. He made 10 Premier League appearances for City but was released from his contract after the attack and had loan spells at Cardiff City and Rochdale.
Richards, of Manchester, was jailed for four years for ABH and stealing a watch from one of the victims.
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of 9jabook Africa's Ist Social Network to add comments!

Join 9jabook Africa's Ist Social Network

Blog Topics by Tags

  • in (506)
  • to (479)
  • of (339)
  • ! (213)
  • as (166)
  • is (157)
  • a (156)

Monthly Archives