Three Leeds United footballers launched a "shocking" attack on a group of Asian students after a night out, leaving one of them seriously injured, a court was told yesterday.
One of the footballers, Jonathan Woodgate, who has played for England, was seen jumping on his unconscious victim, whose face was also bitten by one of Woodgate's friends a jury was told. Another, England under-21 midfielder Lee Bowyer, was seen hugging a friend after the assault, it was alleged. Woodgate, Bowyer and Tony Hackworth were among a group of footballers and friends when trouble erupted outside the Majestyk nightclub in Leeds, Hull Crown Court was told.
Prosecutor Mr Nicholas Campbell QC said one of the students, Mr Sarfraz Najeib (20), was left with serious injuries after the alleged attack in January last year.
The court heard that Leeds team-mate Michael Duberry (24) drove three of his co-defendants from the scene, although both he and Woodgate deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Bowyer (24) of Leeds, defender Woodgate (21) of Middlesbrough, and reserve team striker Hackworth (20) of Leeds, deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Najeib, of Rotherham, south Yorkshire. They also deny affray.
Two other men, Mr Neal Caveney and Mr Paul Clifford, both 21 and from Middlesbrough, deny causing grievous bodily harm, affray and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Mr Campbell told the jurors they would hear various accounts of what followed.
"But what is clear is this - suddenly the students ran off and they were chased by a group of white males. The prosecution say that the first five defendants in the dock took part in that chase.
"In due course the chasing group caught up with the Asian students and two of those students received injuries, one of them seriously."
There were several witnesses to the chase. A taxi driver noticed one of the Asians was "somewhat behind his friends", Mr Campbell said. "He was having difficulty running and those chasing were mocking his gait and the prosecution submit that was Sarfraz Najeib," he said.
Two witnesses saw Woodgate and Bowyer appear round the corner and join in the attack on the defenceless Mr Najeib "by kicking and punching him with some considerable force".
Mr Campbell said: "Jonathan Woodgate, wearing a distinctive grey top, was seen to step back from the stricken student and jump up with both feet in the air, landing with force on his body."
Mr Campbell said before the attack ended one of the group, later identified as Clifford, was seen to bend down towards Mr Najeib and bite him on his cheek. The trial continues today.