Leeds stars walk free from court

Leeds soccer stars Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate walked free from court today.

Bowyer, 24, was dramatically cleared of attacking an Asian student during a drunken night out. England player Woodgate was convicted of affray but cleared of the more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Woodgate, 21, escaped jail and was sentenced to 100 hours' community service for his part in the pursuit of Sarfraz Najeib, who was nearly killed.

Mr Justice Henriques told him the maximum sentence was three years but normally a person of good character would not go to jail for such an offence, despite the presence of several aggravating features.

Paul Clifford, found guilty of GBH, was jailed for six years and Neale Caveney, also found guilty of affray, also got 100 hours' community service.

The verdicts were greeted by a storm of controversy, with the father of Mr Najeib condemning Leeds United for a "lack of sympathy" and its decision to continue fielding the players. A family spokesman said this had turned the pair into "cult heroes" for racists.

Mr Justice Henriques told Woodgate: "It has been obvious to everyone that you have suffered agonies during this trial. That is etched on your face." He said he bore in mind that he had spent six months in court during two trials - the first trial was halted - and had faced a huge financial burden. He told him everyone in the court had been impressed by his courtesy, but he said: "Five young students were caused sheer terror as they were pursued through the streets running for their lives."

Sentencing Clifford, the Hull Crown Court judge described the attack on Mr Najeib as a "shocking and violent crime". He said that although committed by five young men, "the other four remain unidentified".

"You only have yourself to blame for that," he told Clifford. He said Mr Najeib and his companions must have felt "real terror" as they were pursued through the streets of Leeds. Reducing his sentence by six months because of the delay in the case caused by a story in the Sunday Mirror, he condemned the newspaper for "an irresponsible act". The Sunday Mirror faces prosecution for contempt of court.

Outside court, Nicholas Freeman, Woodgate's solicitor, said: "It started with a fist and what followed thereafter will remain the subject of speculation for years to come. This trial has proved a tremendous ordeal, not only for Jonathan Woodgate but also for the Najeib family, with whom Jonathan has every sympathy."

Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale said he would make both players - combined value more than £30 million - available to play for the club, which he would not have done had they been convicted of GBH. Both players have been banned for more than a year from representing England, but Bowyer can now hope to be called up for the World Cup squad.

Woodgate's lawyer David Fish, QC, revealed that the footballer is earning £13,000 a week, rising to £15,250, with an additional bonus payment of £50,000 depending on his number of first-team appearances. However, his defence costs over the two trials were well over £1 million.

"He has been very substantially punished financially," he said. He asked the judge to treat Woodgate as an ordinary individual. He added: "Any sentence of imprisonment will adversely affect his career."

The jury at Hull Crown Court never knew that Bowyer has a previous conviction for attacking an Asian man. Soon after signing for Leeds for £3.5 million he admitted affray after smashing up a McDonald's near his family's home on the Isle of Dogs - an incident in which an Asian member of staff received head injuries. Woodgate had been cautioned by police seven years ago after admitting headbutting a latenight reveller in Middlesbrough when he was 14.

At the end of two trials costing £15 million the jury today decided Woodgate chased the 19-year-old Asian IT student after a 300-yard pursuit and he was then mercilessly kicked and punched by others.

Woodgate and his friends had been downing pints of Smirnoff Mule and Bacardi Breezer mixed. Bowyer had also been drinking heavily.

The trial heard Mr Najeib was attacked by "white males" after having the "temerity" to retaliate after being hit on the back of the head by one of Woodgate's drunken friends, James Hewison.

Bowyer was filmed on a security camera in a "victory hug" with Caveney after the attack and blood was found on his jacket.

Although the prosecution did not allege a racial motive for the assault, Mr Najeib's family are convinced that was behind the attack.

Both Woodgate and Bowyer were leading members of the hard-drinking "lads' mafia" at Leeds United, the court heard. Even as the jury were deliberating this week a drunken night out by a party of Leeds players ended with the arrest of striker Robbie Fowler. He was later released without charge.

Much of the damage to Woodgate's case was as the result of testimony from team mate Michael Duberry, 26, who was cleared after facing a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in the first trial.

Woodgate character witness Linda Purnell, a teacher, told the court: "I have never known him angry or illtempered. He is very caring and very thoughtful."

As Bowyer walked free from court, he said: "I would like to thank everybody for sticking by me, the people from the club that stuck behind me for two years, my manager, chairman and all the players and all the fans who helped me to get through the last trial and this one. It's not been easy for them either."

'Leeds made pair heroes for racists
When shooting stars lose control
Death threats and racial slurs
Comment: We need real role models