'Short and cocky' Wilshere told assault girl: 'Iâve got more money than them â leave your friends'
Published 23:01 28/06/11
By Martin Fricker
A girl whose arm was broken in a vicious nightclub brawl after she snubbed footballer Jack Wilshere claimed yesterday she was left in fear of the England star.
Kim Plested wept in court as she described how her boyfriend Dan Farnon was âkicked continuouslyâ by two of the Arsenal midfielderâs pals as he lay helpless on the ground.
Referring to 19-year-old Wilshere as âshort and cockyâ, she added: âI just remember him as the angry one. I was frightened of him.â
She says a row broke out after Wilshere kept telling her, in front of her boyfriend: âLet me buy you drinks, Iâve got more money than them â leave your friends.â
And she claims fists started flying when he later made a crude sexual remark to her about âsloppy secondsâ.
Recalling Wilshereâs initial approach, Kim said: âHe was short, shorter than the rest of his group, and cocky. I didnât know who he was. I wasnât interested. I said, âJust leave me aloneâ, I just kept saying, âGo awayâ. He did in the end but I could tell by his face he didnât like to be ignored. He obviously wanted my full attention and wasnât happy about being rejected.â
But after starting the trouble with his âunimpressive behaviourâ, Wilshere backed down as his friends and Kimâs slugged it out, the jury at Isleworth crown court was told.
Prosecutor Warwick Tatford said of the ÂŁ50,000 a week player: âHe seems to be the one doing the chatting up and bragging about having more money. But although he starts it all off, he doesnât get involved in the violence itself.â
Wilshere, who is expecting his first child with girlfriend Lauren Neal, 22, in August, was caught on CCTV grabbing one of Kimâs friends by the lapels. He then back off while his mates get in a fist-fight with two of Kimâs pals.
Her boyfriend Dan, 22, was left with a gashed eye and Kim suffered a broken elbow as she put her arms around him trying to protect him. âThey just carried on kicking,â she sobbed.
The court was told she needed metal pins inserted in her arm and was still receiving treatment. Mr Tatford said: âShe was innocent, but she got the nastiest injury of all.â
The court heard the punch-up started as Kimâs group were outside waiting for the stretch limo she had hired to take them home to Surrey.
Wilshere was later given a caution for common assault, while his two friends Adam Mardell and Duane Brailsford each pleaded guilty to affray. Brailsford, who caused Mr Farnonâs injury, also admitted assault.
Now two of Kimâs friends, Bradley Martin, 23, and Elliott Fowler, 24, both of Farnham, Surrey, are standing trial for affray. Both deny the charges, claiming self defence.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Arsenal-Jack-Wilshere-assault-trial-Short-and-cocky-star-told-Kim-Plested-I-ve-got-more-money-than-them-leave-your-friends-article753726.html