Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Ex-prem star hit boy, 14, after handshake prank
FORMER Premier League footballer Jamie O’hara assaulted a boy of 14 after falling for a fake handshake prank, a court heard.
The midfielder struck the young fan as he left the pitch following defeat in a badtempered non-league game.
Prosecutors said the boy was punched in the face but the former Spurs star denied this and claimed he “lashed out” after being spat on.
The court heard O’hara, 31, was filmed confronting the boy after his current club, Essex- based Billericay Town, lost 3-2 away to Leatherhead in Surrey.
He had suffered personal abuse during the “hostile” match on April 15. In a statement, the boy said he was in the crowd when he saw O’hara heading for the tunnel. He put out his right hand over the railing to “see if he would shake it”.
When £10,000-aweek O’hara accepted, the boy pulled it away “as a joke”. He continued: “He then reacted by grabbing hold of the middle of my shirt with his left hand and punched me in the face with his right hand.” The youngster said the blow was “painful” and he was “shocked”. O’hara was dragged away by teammates, Guildford magistrates court heard. The footballer previously admitted FA charges and got an eight-game ban. Yesterday, he admitted assault by beating and was ordered to pay £575 in fines and compensation.
His lawyer Michael Neofytou said the case was a “great tragedy”, adding: “He’s never been in this situation. It will impact on him, his future work plans and his plans to move to America in the coming years.”
O’hara appeared in Celebrity Big Brother this year and is the ex-husband of reality TV star Danielle Lloyd. He refused to comment as he left court.