Lee Hughes fined 500 pounds for assaulting woman at Christmas party

London, May 26 (ANI): Lee Hughes has been fined 500 pounds on Friday for putting his hand between a young woman's legs during a hotel Christmas party and lifting her into the air.

Notts County striker, who did not know the woman and had not even spoken to her, pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to common assault.

In addition to the fine, he is bound over to keep the peace for one year and ordered to pay 120 pounds cost.

The 36-year-old footballer had originally been charged with sexual assault, but after the Crown Prosecution Service consulted the victim his not guilty plea was accepted and the lesser charge preferred.

"This dates back to the third of December last year," the Daily Mail quoted prosecutor Julius Capon as saying.

"The defendant is a professional footballer and was staying with others in his team at the Aerodrome Hotel.There was a fire alarm and everyone had to leave the hotel and assembled in the car park outside.

"The complainant had attended a works function at the hotel, a Christmas party, and was speaking to her friends when the defendant, who had not spoken to her and who she did not know, put his hand between her legs, under her dress and lifted her up into the air," he said.

The prosecutor further said that, the complainant was annoyed and upset with Hughes' behaviour and afterwards he tried to hug her and suggested that he was having a laugh.

"This was inappropriate and disgraceful conduct," Capon added.

Hughes' defence team had asked for the case to be listed at 2pm, but arrived two hours early and the case was called on almost immediately. (ANI)

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