Crystal Palace star Puncheon avoids jail after attacking nightclubbers with his belt

Crystal Palace skipper Jason Puncheon has been spared jail despite the fact a judge ruled he did not act in self defence when attacking a group of nightclubbers with his belt.

Puncheon was seen to twice strike out with his belt in an early-morning melee in Reigate, before telling a bouncer who tried to return it to him that he should keep it and buy a house with it, a court heard.

The 31-year-old was “irate” after the December 17 incident and challenged police to arrest him, Staines Magistrates’ Court heard.

District Judge Michael Snow handed Puncheon a community order, requiring him to carry out 210 hours of unpaid work, and was told to pay £250 compensation to a man he struck out at.

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He was also ordered to pay £930 towards prosecution costs and an £85 Government surcharge.

Bromley footballer Ben Chorley was also charged with contempt of court after taking a picture of Puncheon while he was being sentenced.

District Judge Snow ordered Chorley, who had been sitting at the back of the court, to hand over his mobile phone.

He then asked him to step into the dock and told him: “Mr Chorley, you are now charged with contempt of court. You have taken a photograph in the court of Mr Puncheon in the dock.”

Puncheon, from Kingswood, Surrey, admitted a public order offence after changing his plea.

He admitted a section 4 public order offence of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.

A further charge of assault by beating was dropped after no evidence was offered by the prosecution.

He had been out for dinner with his wife and another couple before all four went to Mishiko nightclub in Reigate.

Pleasant

The evening had been pleasant up until the point another man interrupted himself and his wife dancing, Puncheon told the court.

He said the man, unknown to him, had put his arm around him and when asked not to do so began insulting him.

Speaking from the witness stand Puncheon said the male told him: “You’re f****** shit. That’s why Roy (Hodgson) doesn’t play you.”

He added: “He also said to me that that would be a good story for The Sun.”

After leaving the nightclub and going to their chauffeur-driven car Puncheon, who the court heard was wearing a three-quarter length herringbone jacket, said another woman attempted to strike his wife as he ushered her into the vehicle.

He stated that his friend Ben Chorley, who the court heard had given police the name Steven Cotter, was punched by someone else during the incident in Church Street.

Asked by his lawyer how he felt, Puncheon said: “Really concerned for my safety to be honest because of the build-up of everything that had happened. The moment that somebody leaned over to hit my wife and hit my friend I think it spiralled out of control.”

Prosecutor Craig Warsama told the court that after the incident outside the club Puncheon was “irate”.

“He was shouting ‘Arrest me, arrest me’ in what was described as an aggressive tone,” Mr Warsama said.

Confiscated

When a bouncer who had confiscated the belt then tried to return it to Puncheon, the prosecutor said: “Mr Puncheon’s reply was ‘Keep it, keep it. Buy it. Buy a house with it’.”

He made no comment to police when he was interviewed, the court heard.

Mr Puncheon was acting in self-defence, his lawyer Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC said, but this argument was dismissed by District Judge Michael Snow.

He said: “It’s quite clear to me that he had completely lost control of his behaviour at that time. And he was striking indiscriminately at that group.”

The judge added: “The CCTV is clear and unarguable. No one viewing that CCTV I’m afraid could come to a different conclusion.

“He was not acting in self-defence or in the defence of another (when he used the belt).”

The court heard Puncheon has a previous conviction for assaulting a police officer in 2004, for which he received a 12-month conditional discharge, and driving offences including no insurance and no licence four years later.