Three players jailed

The Premiership stars accused of sexually assaulting three women at a hotel in Spain today vigorously protested their innocence in court.

But at the hearing the judge sent three of the footballers to prison pending further investigations. They were Keith Gillespie from Belfast, Paul Dickov from Glasgow, and Frank Sinclair from London.

Three other players were given provisional liberty by the investigating judge at Cartagena.

The six Leicester City players had appeared one by one before the judge as their club promised an investigation into the allegations and described how the "regrettable" incident had "shocked and disappointed" the fans. Club manager Micky Adams said he was "devastated" by the allegations. The judge was later due to question the alleged victims.

Three German women claim the players forced their way into their hotel room in the resort of La Manga, before some players subjected them to a sexual assault.

Matt Elliott, Keith Gillespie, Lilian Nalis, Paul Dickov, Frank Sinclair and James Scowcroft appeared in court this morning after spending the night in a Spanish jail following their arrest in La Manga on Wednesday. Two other players, Nikos

Dabizas and Danny Coyne, were "provisionally released" after yesterday's hearing. A ninth player, Steffen Freund, who had also been arrested, had earlier been released without charge. The three women, who were staying at Hyatt Regency Hotel, claim they were attacked on Sunday.

The rest of Leicester's 24-man squad cut short their trip and flew home last night. Today in Leicester, Paul Mace, Leicester City's chief operations manager, said: "We take these incidents extremely seriously. No stone will be left unturned in our own investigations.

He added: "The players wish me to stress to you ... they protest their innocence most strongly. We have every faith and every confidence in the Spanish judicial-system that justice will be seen to be done in this matter.

"The club is at the forefront of community relations, both at home and internationally, and we are acutely aware this is damaging to us. This is a regrettable episode for the club and for football in general. In due course, and at the end of any proceedings, a representative of the players will speak directly to fans.

"We have been in contact with the supporters' club and know many are shocked and disappointed by what has happened so far." He spoke after further claims about an incident at the Hyatt hotel emerged. A British woman staying in the room next to the German women today claimed she heard screaming coming from it. The 46-year-old, who was staying with her husband and 23-year-old daughter, said: "We could hear furniture being thrown around and men yelling and swearing. I heard three female voices. They all sounded so distressed.

"One of the women was saying, 'Please stop, please stop. Just leave me alone'.

"At one point I heard one or more of the girls screaming out - but then it suddenly stopped, almost as though the cries were being muffled. We could hear sexual noises. It was horrible."

The three women were taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors confirmed they had injuries suggesting they had been assaulted.

The players were arrested after the women complained to police, handing over blood-stained underwear and a wristband allegedly torn from the arm of one of them as evidence. It is believed the players accused had been celebrating a birthday on the night and had been drinking.

Dickov, 31, Nalis, 32, Scowcroft, 28, and Sinclair, 32, are accused of sexual assault and breaking and entering. Elliott, 35, is accused of breaking and entering and failing to assist the women. Gillespie, 29, is accused of assault and breaking and entering.