ENGLAND STAR GUILTY ... BUT SAYS I’M THE VICTIM
He vows to clear name after conviction for attempted bribery and cop assault
HARRY Maguire last night vowed to clear his name after being convicted of assault.
The Manchester United star got a suspended jail sentence for attacking and trying to bribe police on the island of Mykonos.
But it came amid claims he was stamped on by Greek officers during a brawl last Friday.
And Maguire, yesterday axed from England’s upcoming games, said: “We will be appealing.
“If anything, myself, family and friends are the victims.”
GREEK police claimed Manchester United star Harry Maguire tried to bribe officers into setting him free when he was arrested for assault.
The 27-year-old defender was given a 21 months and 10 days suspended prison sentence after being convicted at a seven-hour trial in his absence.
Maguire plans to appeal amid claims he and his friends were “victims” of police brutality as they were held over an early morning street brawl on the island of Mykonos last Friday. One allegedly stamped on the United captain and told him: “Your career is over.”
The court heard arriving officers were greeted by shouts of “f*** the police”.
And Maguire, who was yesterday axed from the England squad for next month’s Nations League games, was said to have told them: “Don’t you know who I am? I am the captain of Manchester United, I am very rich, I can give you money, I can pay you, please let us go.”
His defence team denied the claims and said he had been wrongly arrested after rushing to the aid of his sister, Daisy, 20, who he feared had been drugged by two “Albanian” men.
Maguire, his brother Joe, 28, and pal Christopher Sharman, 29, were charged with assault and assault against a police officer. The brothers were also charged
with attempted bribery, and Harry and Sharman with verbal assault. But friend Ashden Morley, 27, told the court he saw the England player being attacked by police. He was one of four men and five women who went out in the Old Town.
Mr Morley said the group, which included Maguire and his girlfriend Fern Hawkins, 26, were walking to where they were being picked up by a minibus when they stopped for some food.
He said Daisy was approached by two men and then fell ill. Mr Morley, of Sheffield, added: “Daisy started fitting.” The minibus arrived and the driver was told to take them to hospital.
The group noticed they were being followed by two cars. Mr Morley said: “The next thing we pulled up outside a courtyard. The bus door opened and five or six males tried to pull us off the bus.”
He told how he thought they were being “robbed or kidnapped” and did not realise they were outside a police station.
Maguire and Sharman were ordered to kneel on the floor, Mr Morley said. He added: “Harry and Chris were kicked and stamped on while on the floor. Then they were hauled into the building.”
Maguire’s jail term was suspended for three years. His brother and Sharman were both sentenced to 13 months, also suspended. The player said in a statement last night: “We will be appealing. I remain strong and confident regarding our innocence.
“If anything myself, family and friends are the victims.”
But Yiannis Paradesis, lawyer for the police officers, said: “The victims, all they want is an apology and they have still not received one.”
And casting doubt on claims the group did not know they were dealing with police, he added: “They were taken outside the police station where there is a big sign saying it was a police station. “They were found guilty of verbally assaulting the policemen by saying “f*** the police”. Maguire’s dad Alan was at the court on the neighbouring island of Syros to see his son sentenced. England manager Gareth Southgate had included Maguire in his squad for the upcoming games against Iceland and Denmark. But he said last night: “In light of these developments I have withdrawn him.”