Saints star Dyer sentenced for burglary after rummaging through bags of bar staff

Southampton midfielder Nathan Dyer pleaded guilty at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court to the charge of non-dwelling burglary and was ordered to carry out 60 hours of community service.

Apologetic: Southampton footballer Nathan Dyer

The 20-year-old said he was ashamed after he admitted rummaging through bags belonging to staff at the Bar Bluu club on Southsea seafront on February 28.

He said he did not steal any of the items during the incident, which involved four other men.

Chairman of the Bench Christopher Malone also ordered Dyer to pay a total of £392.50 compensation to the four victims as well as £65 costs.

He warned Dyer that if he did not complete the 60 hours of unpaid work satisfactorily within a 12-month period he could face imprisonment.

Dyer's solicitor, Mark Haslam, said his client, of Briton Street, Southampton, was 'a naive young man' who felt 'deeply ashamed' at having being 'led astray' while under the influence of alcohol.

He said Dyer had described today's appearance in court as 'the worst day of his life'.

The court was shown CCTV footage which captured Dyer and four others rummaging through the bags as they left through a back exit from the club. The footballer had been given VIP treatment at the club which that night hosted R'n'B star Kano.

Four members of staff reported having a total of £145 in cash, two mobile phones, a driving licence and bank cards stolen, the court heard.

Mr Haslam said: 'Nathan Dyer accepts that he did look through the bags, although he did not enter the room intending to do so and he did not take any property from these bags.

'While he has a successful career as a professional footballer, he is young and naive and on the evening in question he had been drinking. Understandably his judgment was affected by having taken alcohol.

Different pleas: Pictured at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on July 8 footballers Bradley Wright-Phillips (left) pleaded not guilty and Nathan Dyer, (behind) pleaded guilty

'He can't explain what he did, he simply didn't think straight. He was being encouraged by others, he was led astray.'

Mr Haslam said Dyer wanted to offer compensation to the victims despite not having stolen the items himself.

He added: 'Nathan Dyer offers his humble and profuse apologies to all those who have been distressed by this sorry enterprise.'

Mr Haslam said Dyer had received a great deal of negative press attention since the incident.

He added: 'He has suffered public humiliation. It's a millstone that will hang around his neck for some time to come. He has damaged his career prospects by placing himself in this position for those minutes of madness which have changed his life.

'He is very ashamed and very sorry. He is profoundly saddened and distressed to find himself in this position. He described it to me as the worst day of his life.'

Dyer's team-mate, Bradley Wright-Phillips, indicated earlier this month that he would plead not guilty to the same charge of non-dwelling burglary and elected for his case to be heard by a judge and jury at the Crown Court.

Wright-Phillips is due to appear before Portsmouth magistrates on September 2 for a committal hearing.