Guernsey Press

England rugby star fined for assault at Jersey nightclub

ENGLAND rugby union star Danny Cipriani was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay a female police officer £250 in compensation after he admitted assaulting a nightclub doorman and resisting arrest in St Helier in the early hours of Wednesday.

Published
England rugby player Danny Cipriani leaves Jersey Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to charges of common assault and resisting arrest following an incident in a nightclub. (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

The Magistrate’s Court was told that the 30-year-old fly-half – who was in Jersey with his club for a pre-season training session with Championship side Jersey Reds – had spent two nights in police cells following his arrest in front of the Pomme d’Or Hotel after grappling with police officers in front of a watching crowd.

Advocate Mike Preston, defending, said: ‘He has suffered extreme embarrassment and knows he has let himself, his family and his club down.’

The police went to arrest the international star after receiving a complaint from the head doorman at The Royal Yacht hotel, who said that he had been assaulted by Cipriani.

Police legal adviser Samantha Morris, prosecuting, said that Cipriani had tried to walk out of The Royal Yacht holding two glasses with drink in them when he was challenged by the head doorman, who told him that he could not do so.

She said that the defendant became argumentative and consumed the drinks.

‘He was physically aggressive towards the doorman, so the doorman activated his bodyworn camera.’

The court heard that this enraged Cipriani and he grabbed hold of the doorman’s tie, pulling it off and the bodyworn video equipment clipped to it.

She said that the defendant then walked off with it.

As a result, the doorman told a female police officer that he wanted to make a formal complaint of assault and the officer went to arrest the defendant outside the Pomme d’Or Hotel.

Miss Morris said that Cipriani was informed he was being arrested ‘but refused to understand why he was being arrested for common assault’.

She said that the defendant ‘tensed up’ and refused to put his arms behind his back.

By this time he had one hand in a handcuff but he broke his arm free and pushed towards the female officer.

The court heard that he also had hold of her shirt.

Miss Morris said that he was eventually restrained by other officers who arrived on the scene but was still struggling when put in the police van.

She said that the policewoman had sustained bruising to her right bicep and reddening to her chest.

Cipriani did return the tie and bodyworn camera to the police, the court heard.

Advocate Preston said that Cipriani was a ‘well-known sportsman’ and had been on a night out with his fellow Gloucester RFC staff.

‘He candidly admits he had too much to drink.’

Advocate Preston said that when Cipriani took the drinks outside he thought that he was taking them into a drinking area.

‘The bouncer prevented him from leaving.

‘He took exception to the doorman’s attitude and particularly when the doorman activated his bodyworn camera,’ he said.

Advocate Preston added: ‘He is more sensitive to such actions, given his celebrity, than you or I might be.’

He submitted that the assault on the doorman consisted of Cipriani grabbing at the doorman’s tie when trying to prevent the video recording.

Advocate Preston said that when Cipriani was approached outside the Pomme d’Or by police he was ‘confused as to why he was immediately arrested and why he was being handcuffed’.

The lawyer said that a crowd had gathered and Cipriani accepted that he struggled.

‘He is very sorry for his behaviour, which lasted a few seconds,’ said Advocate Preston.

He added that Cipriani accepted that he took hold of the officer’s collar and caused the bruises and minor reddening.

Advocate Preston said that the offence ‘was at the lower end of the scale of culpability’.

He had no relevant previous convictions.

Relief Magistrate Sarah Fitz said that the police did a difficult job and had to be protected. However, she added: ‘This is one incident that started off in a minor way.

‘You have pleaded guilty on this first occasion and it can be dealt with by way of a fine.’

A statement on Gloucester Rugby’s website says that Cipriani is ‘very remorseful’ following the incident and would like to thank those who supported him during this time.

Gloucester Rugby chief executive officer Stephen Vaughan said: ‘Incidents of this nature are very disappointing to be associated with and we will deal with it in a robust but balanced way but based purely on the facts.’

He added Cipriani had the club’s full support.