Ospreys star Andrew Bishop fined for assault
OSPREYS and Wales player Andrew Bishop has been ordered to pay more than £1,000 in fines and compensation after throwing punches at a passer-by after a drunken night out with his team-mates.
Magistrates heard how the 27-year-old caught Allan Hornsey in the face with a punch which split his lip and needed eight stitches.
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Andrew Bishop
Bishop, who plays centre for the Ospreys, assaulted Mr Hornsey after he had asked him: "Are you all right?"
The rugby star had got to his feet after being slumped on the ground in a doorway in the middle of Cardiff's nightclub quarter at 2.50am.
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Bishop was drunk after downing five or six pints of beer plus vodka and Red Bull, the court was told.
He had been drinking in the popular Peppermint Lounge and Soda Bar in Mill Lane, Cardiff, with his Ospreys team-mates, who were on a team outing.
Prosecutor Katie Pidgeon told Cardiff magistrates: "The defendant was sat on the ground in a doorway with his head down.
"His victim saw him and was abused by him, and after saying 'are you all right' he was slapped in the face with the back of the hand."
The court heard that a friend of Mr Hornsey's intervened before Bishop punched him again in the face, cutting his upper lip.
"He was throwing punches with clenched fists with both hands," Miss Pidgeon told the court.
"Mr Hornsey, who had not retaliated, was bleeding and needed eight stitches in his lip in the unprovoked attack."
The court heard that Mr Hornsey had his shirt ripped in the attack in the early hours of August 20.
At first Bishop denied the assault but later admitted it when shown the scene captured by CCTV cameras.
Miss Pidgeon said: "He was ashamed and embarrassed. He had drunk five to six pints and also vodka and Red Bull. He was intoxicated."
Bishop's lawyer Stuart Hutton said his client "enormously regretted" the incident, which was completely out of character.
He said that Bishop, capped 16 times by Wales, was "mild, polite and regarded as a gentleman who breaks up arguments on the rugby pitch."
Mr Hutton said: "He has never been disciplined or shown any card apart from a yellow for being offside."
Team-mate and fellow Wales international Ryan Jones said in a written testimony that Bishop walked away from flare-ups and tried to calm things down.
Mr Hutton said: "The defendant cannot remember anything. He has no recollection apart from knowing his mobile phone had been destroyed."
Bishop, of Treorchy, Rhondda, admitted common assault and was ordered to pay £1,065, including a £465 fine and £500 compensation to Mr Hornsey.
Magistrate Frank Medina told him: "It saddens the court that someone with your reputation and clean record appears before the court."
Bishop, who was supported by his partner Rhia, said afterwards: "What happened does not represent the person I am.
"I have endeavoured to conduct my life with integrity and stand by values which are important."
Comments
by Neathboy234
Friday, September 28 2012, 5:27PM
“Bayonne have suspended Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips until further notice amid allegations off off-field misbehavior.
In a statement, Bayonne said: "The off field behaviour of Mike Phillips is unacceptable and he has been fined. He has also been suspended until further notice.”
by Neathboy234
Friday, September 28 2012, 5:16PM
“Just heard the news that Mike Phillips has been suspended by his club out in France.”
by Jiffy
Friday, September 28 2012, 4:58PM
“Lucky no one thumped Andrew Bishop.
Bashing the Bishop - nasty.”
by Lezz_T
Friday, September 28 2012, 3:08PM
“He was lucky he didn't do a 'Mike Phillips' and start on the wrong bloke.”
by hacker_jack
Friday, September 28 2012, 2:53PM
“Neathboy, I support the Swans as much as anyone but over the years they have been no angels. Tommy Butler and Craig Beattie especially were well known for their nights out on the town. They might not have been drinking themselves stupid and throwing punches but their Mrss would certainly not have approved of what they did get up to.
As for Bishop, this should be an end to it, the vast majority of people in the same situation would not be punished by their employers as well. I suspect he will volunteer to do some community work and they will be that.”
by Jack5y
Friday, September 28 2012, 2:48PM
“There does seem to be a lack of disapline with the Ospreys squad. If they arnt smashing up rubgy clubs during their Christmas party, they are getting arrested for being drunk and fighting. This behaviour doesnt send out a good message to their young fans.
I wonder if the WRU or Ospreys will do anything to stop this type of behaviour in the future.”
by Neathboy234
Friday, September 28 2012, 2:42PM
“One good thing, no one was spat at. I don't like that one bit”
by chelsea1955
Friday, September 28 2012, 2:35PM
“Nothing but a YOB, brought shame to the name of Welsh rugby, should lock him up and throw the key away, lucky for us our footballers NEVER drag the good name of Welsh football to gutter level that goes for most footballers who get tarnished with the same brush of rugby players, YOBS THE LOT OF THEM”
by Neathboy234
Friday, September 28 2012, 2:07PM
“Lezz_T your dead right, when was the last time we heard of a Swan's player out getting drunk and ended up fighting. When i saw playing rugby i was no angel, but i wouldn't dream of hitting anyone other than on a pitch.
On one occasion i hit a guy during a game and knocked him out with one lucky punch. Everyone saw what happened except the ref. It was a total nightmare, they had to call for an ambulance and the bloke got taken to hospital. When the game restated i knew i was in for what is called a "club kicking". I told the rest of my team mates not to let me end up on my own. What happened one of the boys scored a try and i was pounced upon by 10 of their players. I went to a wedding later that night, my wife had a fit when she saw me. I'd broke my nose and had 2 black eyes. The good thing was we played them again later that year and it was all forgotten about, if i hadn't had that kicking i would have never been able to play there again.”
by Lezz_T
Friday, September 28 2012, 1:51PM
“Welsh rugby players maybe paid to play these days, but they're still light years away from being 'professional'.
It's no wonder the Welsh regions are rubbish in the Heineken Cup and Wales haven't managed a single win against the All Blacks in 60 years.
National sport?
What a joke.”