Footballer lashed out at clubbers with belt
‘Irate’ Crystal Palace star told doorman to ‘buy a house’ with his belt during fracas outside nightclub
A BOASTFUL footballer told a doorman to “buy a house” with his expensive belt after attempting to whip clubbers with it, a court heard.
Jason Puncheon, the Crystal Palace captain, reportedly on £35,000 a week, was seen twice striking out with his belt at a group outside a nightclub and challenged police to arrest him, Staines magistrates’ court heard.
The 31-year-old had been due to stand trial yesterday but changed his plea at the last minute, admitting a public order offence outside Mishiko nightclub in Reigate, Surrey, on Dec 17.
Craig Warsama, prosecuting, told the court that after the incident outside the club, Puncheon was “irate”.
“He was shouting, ‘Arrest me, arrest me’ in what was described as an aggressive tone,” he said. When a doorman who had confiscated the belt then tried to return it to Puncheon, the prosecutor said: “Mr Puncheon’s reply was, ‘Keep it, keep it. Buy a house with it’.”
Puncheon had been out with Ben Chorley, a footballer friend who plays for Bromley, a National League side, and their wives.
The court heard the two couples had enjoyed dinner before moving on to the club. Puncheon said it had been a pleasant evening until another man interrupted him and his wife while they were dancing.
He said that the man, unknown to him, had put his arm around him and when asked not to do so began insulting him.
Puncheon, who said he had been drinking that evening, said the man told him: “You’re f------ s---. That’s why Roy (Hodgson) doesn’t play you.” After leaving the club and going to their chauffeur-driven car, Puncheon said another woman attempted to strike his wife as he ushered her into the vehicle.
He stated that Chorley was punched by someone else during the incident.
Asked how he felt after he claimed to see someone attempt to strike his wife, he said: “Really concerned for my safety, to be honest, because of the build-up of everything that had happened. The moment that somebody leaned over to hit my wife and hit my friend, it spiralled out of control.”
District Judge Michael Snow said: “It’s quite clear to me that he had completely lost control of his behaviour at that time. And he was striking indiscriminately at that group.”
Puncheon was handed a community order, requiring him to carry out 210 hours of unpaid work, and told to pay £250 compensation to Paul Mendy, the doorman whom he struck out at with his belt, plus £930 prosecution costs.
Chorley, a 35-year-old father of two, ended up in the dock himself after Puncheon was sentenced, having taken a photograph during the hearing.