June 4 2018

Jason Puncheon

Crystal Palace midfielder Jason Puncheon has been given a community order after an incident outside a Reigate nightclub.

Puncheon arrived at Staines Magistrates' Court for the start of his trial but changed his plea and admitted a public order offence of whipping a bouncer with a leather belt on December 17 last year.

The 31-year-old will serve 210 hours of community service, plus he has to pay £250 compensation to doorman Paul Mendy. He also has to pay £930 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £85.

Judge Snow said: "Things took a turn for the worse outside the nightclub and you say that members of your group including your wife were attacked.

"You used a belt on two separate occasions, you came from some distance away at a man who had his back to you when he was in effect defenceless."

A Crystal Palace spokesman said: "This was a regrettable incident and entirely out of character. The matter will be dealt with internally."