Ex-Premier League star and boxing champ beats up family member in brutal pub brawl
Former footballer, non-league manager and boxing champion Curtis Woodhouse has incurred costs of almost £9,000 after pleading guilty to assaulting a family member at a Yorkshire pub last year, reports Mark Whiley and Mark Naylor for Daily Star.
Curtis Woodhouse in action for Sheffield United in 2000 (Image: Press Association)
Footballer-turned-boxing champion Curtis Woodhouse has been left with a hefty court bill after attacking a man in a pub.
Woodhouse, who played for Birmingham City in the Premier League before turning to boxing and winning the British light-welterweight title, admitted assaulting the man by beating in an east Yorkshire boozer on August 20 last year.
The 43-year-old has now been fined £6,500 and ordered to pay £300 compensation at Hull Magistrates’ Court following a violent incident in Driffield, in which it’s claimed he punched and kicked his cousin. As well as the fine and compensation, District Judge Mark Daley ordered Woodhouse to pay a Government-imposed £2,000 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs. His total court bill amounted to £8,885.
The assault occurred after tempers flared at the pub, reports HullLive, with words allegedly being said in the toilets before escalating in a beer garden. His guilty plea was accepted by the prosecution on the basis of punching and kicking by Woodhouse.
Defense solicitor Mike Farr said that Woodhouse pleaded guilty at the very first opportunity in the magistrates’ court on the first listing of the case. He made admissions and regretted his behavior during the assault. The victim was a member of Woodhouse’s extended family.
Curtis Woodhouse (right) in boxing action (Image: PA)
Woodhouse now ran his own company, said Mr. Farr. The sportsman had previous convictions, including being convicted at Bridlington Magistrates’ Court in 2006 of assaulting a police officer and using threatening words or behavior.
That incident happened after the policeman was called to a Bridlington pub where Woodhouse had become drunk and aggressive. Woodhouse was given 120 hours’ unpaid work and was ordered to pay £100 compensation.
Curtis Woodhouse during his time as Gainsborough Trinity manager (Image: thenpl.co.uk)
Curtis Woodhouse has been fined over the incident
Woodhouse played for a number of clubs during his football career, including Sheffield United, Hull City, Peterborough United and Grimsby Town. After becoming disillusioned with the game, he switched to boxing with great success.
Since hanging up the gloves, he has managed at non-league football level with Sheffield FC, Goole, Bridlington Town, Gainsborough Trinity and, most recently as boss of Marske United, who sacked him earlier this year.
