Father of Premier League player charged with sexual assault over alleged Wetherspoon incident
Man in his 60s to appear at Sheffield magistrates' court in October after police probe and CCTV appeal, reports say
A man in his 60s who is the father of a Premier League international has been charged with a single count of sexual assault following an alleged incident at a Wetherspoon pub earlier this year, media reports said.
The complaint relating to the alleged contact was made to police in March and officers subsequently released CCTV images as part of an appeal for information, according to reporting by The Sun and carried by other outlets. Police said the man reportedly approached the woman from behind before touching her inappropriately.
The man handed himself in for questioning after friends contacted him following the release of the images, the reports said. He denies any wrongdoing and has co-operated with police, a source told The Sun, which also quoted the source as saying the charge came as a shock and that the man had no previous run-ins with the law.
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman confirmed to The Sun that a man had been charged with a single count of sexual assault. The defendant is due to appear at Sheffield magistrates' court in October.
Police involvement began after the March complaint and followed standard investigative steps, including the release of CCTV footage to help identify a suspect, the reports said. Further details, including the name of the defendant and the identity of his son, who plays in the Premier League and is an international, were not disclosed in initial media coverage.
The case has attracted attention because of the defendant's relationship to a high-profile footballer. The defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty in court. No court hearing has yet been held and no conviction has been recorded.
Further comment from the club for which the son plays, from the wider Premier League, and from police was not reported at the time of publication. The court listing in October will determine the next procedural steps in the prosecution of the charge.