Ex-Latics player guilty of assault

Michael Ricketts

A former Oldham Athletic and Bolton Wanderers footballer has told a court he was really sorry after head-butting and punching his girl friend in a row over ex–lovers at a restaurant.

Michael Ricketts, with Latics for a brief spell in 2007 and who was capped once by England, was out celebrating his 32nd birthday when he argued with Nuala McEwan (33) at the Amba bar in Hale, Cheshire, last December.

The pair, in a relationship for the past eight years, had been drinking and were planning their future together then began talking over old ground and past relationships when the spat flared up, Trafford magistrates heard.

Ricketts accused Ms McEwan of being involved with someone else and she ordered a taxi to leave, Alan Pope, prosecuting, told the court.

While outside, Ricketts turned on her, punching and head-butting his victim, who fell to the floor in a blur.

When police arrived the footballer, currently unemployed and without a club, continued to be aggressive and police had to threaten him with a Taser stun gun before he was restrained by officers. The victim was left with a cut to her eye.

Ms McEwan, who was not at court, wrote a letter in support of Ricketts, still her boy friend, saying that before the attack she said things which were deliberately derogatory and intended to hurt him.

Ricketts, of Four Oaks Road, Birmingham, who had no previous convictions, admitted a single charge of common assault.

Bryan McMahon, defending, told magistrates: “It is obviously an abhorrent incident.”

Mr McMahon added: “He should have walked away. She accepts that the future between them was being planned, alcohol was involved and essentially, as is the way with most discussions on the future, that included old ground, old relationships.

“There was an element of provocation. I don’t say that, the victim says that. It is totally out of character.”

Ricketts told the court: “It is just a very unpleasant incident. I’m very disappointed about what happened and what it led to.

“I’m really sorry. Conversation stirred up a lot of emotions.”

Chris Hall, chairman of the bench, asked Ricketts about his financial means, before passing sentence.

Ricketts said he had been unemployed for a year but was still looking to play football.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order and 150 hours’ unpaid work, fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs. He said he would pay all costs within 14 days.