Footballer cleared in assault trial

The West Ham defender admitted striking the first blow after the 22-year-old first "eyeballed" his £64,000 watch then threatened a friend.

London's Snaresbrook Crown Court heard no sooner had he been dragged away than up to 10 other men punched the "would-be robber" to the ground and kicked him repeatedly.

The five-woman, seven-man jury trying the player, also 22, of Grove Park Road, Mottingham, south-east London, took just over one and a half hours to accept he was acting in self-defence.

They unanimously cleared him of assault occasioning actual bodily harm outside Faces nightclub in Ilford, east London, on October 2 last year, affray, and alternative common assault and public order offences.

The footballer showed no reaction as the verdicts were announced but his brother, England and Manchester United player Rio, who was watching from the public gallery, bowed his head and nodded in obvious relief.

One of Ferdinand's friends, Edward Dawkins, of Henry Adlington Close, Beckton, east London, who was also on trial, was similarly cleared of all the allegations.

The 28-year-old, said to have been part of the alleged mob-handed attack on Emile Walker, had told jurors he was simply defending a friend.

After the verdicts, Judge William Kennedy said he was happy to grant the privately represented footballer his defence costs.

He then told the two men: "Stand up gentlemen. This was an unfortunate incident for you both which is now at an end. You now leave without a stain on your character arising from it. Good afternoon to you."