Sky sacks soccer pundit for beating up girlfriend
SKY football pundit Peter Beagrie was sacked last night after being convicted of beating up his girlfriend.
The former Manchester City and Everton winger, 51, punched Zarah Blake and threatened to “rip out” her throat in a drunken row over whether they would get married.
He sank six glasses of champagne and three gin and tonics before punching Ms Blake “two or three” times.
The father-of-three, described as “volatile and nasty”, was found guilty of assault after magistrates in Skipton, North Yorkshire, heard claims that he regularly beat his partner.
The court was told that following the assault in Harrogate last April, police found Beagrie “towering” over Ms Blake, shouting in her face.
The couple had been in a bar when the conversation turned to marriage.
Beagrie told the court: “I said, ‘We both know that’s not going to happen’ and she slapped me across the face.”
Ms Blake left the bar and went to a friend’s flat, where Beagrie later found her and was seen hitting her.
PC Crawford Evans said Ms Blake was upset and dishevelled and claimed Beagrie hit her “all the time”.
Ms Blake also told police Beagrie had said he was going to kill her. Beagrie claimed there had been an accidental clash of heads which cut Ms Blake’s lip and caused bruising.
He was given a community order and ordered him to pay £710 costs.
Two charges of assault from last year were dismissed after Ms Blake withdrew allegations.
Sky said later that he had been removed from coverage pending the outcome of the trial – but now his contract had been terminated.
Beagrie retired in 2006 after a 23-year career with 10 clubs including Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Bradford City, Stoke and Scunthorpe.