Rugby stars ‘let off with an apology’
TWO England rugby league stars filmed abusing young barmaids have been dealt with by “restorative justice” said police.
They have already been fined a total of £15,000 by their club. But it is believed police are taking no further action after the pair apologised to the bar staff
Wigan Warriors forward Joel Tomkins, 31, also an England rugby union international, and his brother and team-mate Sam allegedly shouted vile abuse at two young barmaids.
One victim at the pub in Standish, Wigan, in April was a teen, the other 21.
Joel was fined £10,000 and suspended for a month. Sam, 29, was fined £5,000. Social media showed Joel, trying to push his way behind the bar.
WIGAN’S Joel Tomkins says he is “deeply ashamed and embarrassed” of the video nasty, which showed him verbally abusing female bar staff.
Footage emerged on Saturday night and led to Tomkins (above) being suspended for four weeks and fined £10,000 by the Warriors, while brother Sam, also present, was fined £5,000. Tomkins said: “I would like to apologise to anyone affected by my behaviour.
“I am deeply ashamed and embarrassed by the whole situation.”
Tomkins said that he had drunk excessively and confirmed that, after apologising to the bar staff the next day, “an agreement was reached to delete the video”.
But more than a million people viewed it after its posting on Facebook.