THREE Leeds United footballers launched a violent street attack on a young Asian student that left onlookers "shocked and sickened", a court heard yesterday.
England internationals Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Wood-gate, who comes from Middlesbrough, and Leeds reserve team striker Tony Hackworth are accused of joining in the drink-fuelled assault on 20-year-old Sarfraz Najeib.
During the attack, Mr Najeib was kicked and punched repeatedly while he lay unconscious on the ground, a jury at Hull Crown Court was told.
Woodgate - a 21-year-old defender who has played for England in a full international - was seen to jump on the stricken student's body with both feet, said Nicholas Campbell QC, prosecuting.
He said that after the assault 24-year-old England Under-21 midfielder Bowyer was seen emotionally embracing another of the alleged attackers, Neal Caveney, 21 - a friend of Woodgate - who also comes from Teesside.
Mr Campbell said the embrace was because of "the victory they believed they had won".
Mr Najeib was left with fractures to his nose, cheek and leg and two black eyes and a bite mark to his cheek.
Bowyer and Hackworth, 20, both of Leeds; Woodgate, and Caveney, together with Paul Clifford, 21, also of Middlesbrough, deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Najeib, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire. They also deny affray.
Woodgate, Caveney and Clifford, together with Leeds United player Michael Duberry, 24, also plead not guilty to conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
The Crown alleges that they tried to hinder the police investigation into the assault by fleeing the scene and disposing of potentially incriminating items of clothing.
The jury heard that Mr Najeib, his brother Shahzad and three friends were chased by the accused after a confrontation outside the Majestyk night club in Leeds shortly after midnight on January 12 last year, where they had been attending a students' night.
All the defendants, except Duberry, had been drinking in Leeds city centre with friends, with some visiting a lap dancing bar, before going to the club.
After one of their party was asked to leave, there was trouble outside the club, where Mr Najeib's group, who had not been drinking, were just leaving, and paused to see what was happening.
Mr Campbell said one member of a group of white men then struck Mr Najeib on the back of the head, knocking him to the floor.
Mr Najeib was then seen to run towards the group, where he punched or pushed one of them.
The Asian group fled, pursued by the white men.
A taxi driver noticed one of the Asians was "somewhat behind his friends", Mr Campbell said.
"He was having difficulty running and those chasing were mocking his gait, and the prosecution submit that was Sarfraz Najeib," he said.
Two window cleaners also witnessed the chase, with one of them identifying Woodgate. The group of whites caught up with Mr Najeib, who was lagging behind, and he was thrown against a wall, it was alleged. The group surrounded the student and began kicking and punching him.
"He put up no resistance and the impression of the witnesses was that he was quickly rendered unconscious," said Mr Campbell.
The two witnesses then saw Woodgate and Bowyer appear round the corner and join in the attack on the defenceless Mr Najeib. Mr Campbell said: "Jon-athan Woodgate was seen to step back from the stricken student and jump up with both feet in the air, landing with great force on his body."
Mr Campbell said that before the attack ended, one of the group, later identified as Clifford, was seen to bend down towards Mr Najeib and bite him on his cheek. "Sarfraz Najeib carries the marks of that to this day," he said.
Mr Najeib spent eight days in hospital after the attack.
Mr Campbell said that Duberry, who had been at the club but had not been drinking, had driven Woodgate and four of his friends to his home,
While there, two of the accused were given a change of clothing and Duberry telephoned for a taxi to take them back to their hotel in Leeds, the court heard.
The trial was adjourned until today
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article