Stoke City star Ryan Shotton cleared of Hanley assault
STOKE City ace Ryan Shotton has spoken of his relief after being cleared of a city centre assault.
The 24-year-old was yesterday found not guilty of attacking Mark McDonald on the grounds that he acted in self defence, and to protect a friend.
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Ryan Shotton outside court yesterday.
After the case, Mr Shotton told The Sentinel: "I am just a happy man. Justice has been done."
North Staffordshire magistrates heard Mr Shotton punched Mr McDonald once in Pall Mall in the early hours of June 24, leaving him needing stitches to cuts to his lip and head.
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The defender, of Brunswick Court, Newcastle, accepted punching Mr McDonald but denied assault saying he delivered the preemptive strike in self-defence.
The court heard the violence came after an earlier incident in Touch nightclub. Magistrates found there may have been 'verbal contact' in the toilets between the two men. Mr McDonald said he tried to speak to Mr Shotton but said the footballer was 'very up himself' and 'arrogantly' pushed him – a claim denied by the Premier League star.
Mr McDonald admitted he was 'wound up' and said there was a confrontation in which he described a 'bit of pushing and shoving' before he was asked to leave the club.
But minutes later Mr McDonald and his friend approached one of Mr Shotton's friends outside the club.
They then continued towards Mr Shotton and another friend before last season's Young Player of the Year struck him with a single blow.
Mr Shotton told the court Mr McDonald gave him a 'very cheap shot' in the club.
He said he and his friends went to get a taxi when two men walked towards them near Pink nightspot.
The full-back said he did not recognise Mr McDonald at first but then realised who it was.
"I thought he was ready for round two. He came across the road aggressively," Mr Shotton said.
"He said he was going to stab me and beat me up. His body language was really aggressive.
"He moved towards my friend. I thought he was going to strike my friend.
"I accept I hit him. I took it upon myself to hit him to protect myself and my friend.
"It was a preemptive strike."
Shotton denied acting in revenge after the earlier incident in Touch.
"I acted in self defence for myself, and my friend," he added.
Chairman of the bench Kate Fitzpatrick said: "We find Mr Shotton not guilty and he was acting in self defence of another."
Comments
by petemarino
Sunday, December 23 2012, 1:31PM
“That's the trouble yoblet, you don't think, you have the attention span of a Vale fan or a Goldfish”
by yoblet
Wednesday, December 19 2012, 10:28PM
“If he did hit him.its the first time he's hit the target as I can think of ?”
by NoName690
Wednesday, December 19 2012, 1:49PM
“Im sure hes innocent!!...after sticking up for my friend last year and nearly ending up in prison I met some of 'Shotz's' muggy mates on my community service ever such a lovely set of lads so im sure that Shotz and his friend were really innocent and werent game for the scrap or enticed the man at all!!...and he must have a massive set of hands to make the guy have a cut lip and head as well if hes only hit him once!!!”
by The_Tool
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 11:20PM
“I have to say that in fairness to Ryan, he is a typical young footballer and probably not had the education that would allow him to spell his name in an autograph book.”
by Pantofola
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 4:41PM
“hemheath
Your talking garbage pal.
You don't know Ryan so don't judge him, and you certainly don't know what happened that night in question.
Just because he didnt sign an autograph doesnt mean he deserves to be set upon by some knuckledragger up Hanley when he is just trying to enjoy himself.
Bottom line is people will always be jealeous of success, so they feel the need to prove themself or start something. Typical mentality of the drongo chavs that frequent hanley.
He's a young lad trying to enjoy himself. Give him a break.”
by JohnMinor
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 4:17PM
“I know Ryan and have always found him to be more than respectful when he visits my son at our house - I think it's about time we got behind local lads doing well. You will always be welcome here Ryan..
John Norton”
by hemheath
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 4:05PM
“defjamrcs
There is no resentment I have seen with my own eyes, my son asked Shocking for his autograph and he snubbed him leaving my son very upset.
The lad's head has gone to big to soon. Manners cost nothing!!!!!!
God knows what he would be like if he could play football and not just throw the ball.”
by mole10
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 4:01PM
“Paul Shotton shouldn't be seen in Hanley?
Don't be so ridiculous. The more people like him, the better.”
by defjamrcs
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 2:22PM
“There's an undercurrent of resentment in some people in the City who bulk at other people's success. Some of whom seem to very active posters on here”
by stokemaveric
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 2:17PM
“why the red arrows folks??? if i had some half brained drunken moron going to attack me id have done the same...a smack in the gob often offends...”