Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Former NI star cleared of bus grope charge
Sammy Nelson acquitted at trial
A FORMER Northern Ireland international and Arsenal star has been cleared of groping a pensioner on a bus after a boozy afternoon watching the Gunners.
Samuel Nelson – known as Sammy – was accused of grabbing the woman between the legs on October 28 last year.
The 69-year-old was cleared of one count of sexual assault over the alleged incident on the packed park-and-ride bus from Brighton city centre.
The complainant, who is aged in her 70s, told the city’s Magistrates’ Court she had been returning from a Beethoven concert when Nelson touched her.
She claimed the former footballer , who now lives in Hove, East Sussex, groped her after they had been making small talk for a few minutes.
She alleged: “All of a sudden this hand came down between my legs with some force. About 10 minutes later he did exactly the same thing again.” The court was shown a clip of the bus ride during which Nelson apparently picks up the woman’s hand and either kisses it or presses it to his face. He then apparently nudges her with his elbow.
The complainant insisted she had not held hands or even touched Nelson before the alleged assault, even though she was repeatedly shown the CCTV. Nelson denied ever groping the complainant.
Magistrate Dr Peter Sutton said there were inconsistencies between her account and the CCTV footage.
He added: “There is no evidence of the events as described by the complainant.”
At a previous hearing, Nelson admitted one count of assault by beating relating to pressing the complainant’s hand to his mouth. He was given an absolute discharge in relation to that offence, but ordered to pay £85 costs.