Chris Sutton has been found guilty of spitting in the face of a Manchester United fan during a night out with friends. The striker was found guilty of two counts of common assault at Horseferry Road Magistrates Court in Central London.

Stipendiary magistrate Susan Staveley said that she had found both charges proved because "there was total consistency in evidence" against him. She ordered the player to pay a total of #700 including #200 in compensation to his victim.

The incident happened last October when Sutton and nine friends went to the trendy Mezzo restaurant in London's Soho to celebrate his model wife Samantha's 26th birthday. The court heard that as the party left the venue at 3am, the 27-year-old Sutton 27 bumped into 23-year-old Helen McNamara. Partridge, who was with Ms McNamara, then become involved in the dispute during which it was alleged that someone called out to the footballer's party - which included Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris - that one of them was a "third string player".

During the altercation Partridge claimed that Sutton had told him to go back to his council estate and then criticised his clothes.

Sutton, who denied both charges, told the court he had only drunk two glasses of wine during the evening. Describing what happened outside the restaurant, Sutton said: "As I left to come down the steps I stumbled into a lady and apologised on more than one occasion. The lady didn't seem happy with an apology. I then continued to walk down the steps and there were some words from a group. I have been in situations like this before. I felt things said to me were abusive and derogatory."

Mr Atzal said to the footballer: "Spitting in someone's face is absolutely repulsive, isn't it?" Sutton answered: "Yes."

After the hearing the player described the result as "a joke". Sutton said: "I am concerned about people's perception of me now, and that anybody else could make allegations against me and I could end up with a criminal record."

Let's just hope he tries the same thing in Glasgow rather than outside a Trendy restaurant in Soho!

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

Answers

>>>>>Sutton said: "I am concerned about people's perception of me now, and that anybody else could make allegations against me and I could end up with a criminal record."<<<<<<

Sorry to be the one to break this to you Chris, but being fined #700 by Horseferry road Magistrates court mean you ALREADY HAVE a criminal record.

Tough....but thems the breaks bonny lad.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

Do they have council estates in Glasgow, life could get a little uncomfortable for Sutton if he keeps up his talentless snobbery.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2000