Marlon King Sentenced To 18 Months In Jail For Sexual Assault; Sacked By Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic striker Marlon King, 29, faces an 18-month imprisonment after being found guilty of committing sexual assault and actual bodily harm in a charge that relates to a nightclub incident that left a woman with a broken nose.

King was celebrating in Soho's Revue Bar, in December, after scoring a goal and discovering his wife was pregnant.

The evening turned sour, however, when a young woman spurned his "disgusting" advances. King reportedly "lashed out" violently, and is said to have punched the victim in the face leaving her with a bloodied nose - London's Southwark Crown Court heard.
King has countered the allegations, claiming he himself is a victim of "mistaken identity".

Witness reports, though, implicated the striker and the jury gave a majority 10-2 decision in both cases guilty of sexual assault by touching and occasioning to actual bodily harm.

He has been sentenced to one month for the sexual assault charge to run concurrently, with 18 months for actual bodily harm

King will also have to sign the sexual offender's register.

Latic chairman Dave Whelan indicated that the club will be taking their own disciplinary measures - resulting in his likely dismissal from the club.

"I'm sure he deserved it [the sentence]. He is our player and we will follow the rules and regulations. He will be given 14 days notice… but he is absolutely sacked. We cannot tolerate football players who get sentenced to jail for 18 months.

"He has set such a bad example to our young players coming through."