Tweet
Marlon King broke woman's nose
Footballer 'broke woman's nose'
Mr King claims he is the victim of mistaken identity
A Premier League footballer broke a woman's nose with a single punch after saying, "Don't you know who I am? I am a millionaire", a jury has been told.
Wigan Athletic striker Marlon King, 29, also "sexually touched" the woman, 20, London's Southwark Crown Court heard.
The attack in a Soho bar after she had rejected his advances was a piece of "gratuitous" violence, jurors heard.
Mr King, a married father-of-three, denies sexual assault by touching and causing actual bodily harm.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was injured by Mr King at the Soho Revue Bar in December, the court was told.
Marlon King took one step backward and smashed her in the face with a clenched fist 
Roger Daniells-Smith, prosecuting
On the night of the incident, she had been with a group of "sporty type" friends.
Another footballer and sports journalist were also there, but Mr King was not part of the group.
Describing the alleged touching by the accused, Roger Daniells-Smith, prosecuting, said: "They were complete strangers to each other.
"It was not an accidental brushing or innocent contact that occasionally happens in crowded bars. This was deliberate and sexual."
The woman responded by saying: "Don't do that, it's not nice. Don't touch me."
Women 'recoiled'
Mr King then turned his attention to other women in the party, the court heard.
Mr Daniells-Smith said: "They, too, recoiled from his touching them and told him very clearly to stop behaving in this manner."
The prosecution alleges that Mr King simply turned his attention back to the eventual victim.
Describing that exchange, Mr Daniells-Smith said that Mr King began: "Don't you know who I am? I'm a millionaire."
The court heard that his alleged victim replied by saying: "I don't care who you are, take your millionaire self away from our table".
He was given further warnings but continued to stroke the woman's hair and then allegedly told her that she was not in his league.
After she pushed him in the chest, Mr King responded with the punch, the court was told.
Mr Daniells-Smith said: "At that moment Marlon King took one step backward and smashed her in the face with a clenched fist. He broke her nose with the blow.
"It was a completely gratuitous piece of violence against a slightly-built female.
"It was unprovoked and could not have been an act of lawful self-defence."
Mr King, who on loan at Hull City at the time, claims he has been mistakenly identified as the assailant.
The trial continues.
Mr King claims he is the victim of mistaken identityA Premier League footballer broke a woman's nose with a single punch after saying, "Don't you know who I am? I am a millionaire", a jury has been told.
Wigan Athletic striker Marlon King, 29, also "sexually touched" the woman, 20, London's Southwark Crown Court heard.
The attack in a Soho bar after she had rejected his advances was a piece of "gratuitous" violence, jurors heard.
Mr King, a married father-of-three, denies sexual assault by touching and causing actual bodily harm.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was injured by Mr King at the Soho Revue Bar in December, the court was told.
Marlon King took one step backward and smashed her in the face with a clenched fist Roger Daniells-Smith, prosecuting
On the night of the incident, she had been with a group of "sporty type" friends.
Another footballer and sports journalist were also there, but Mr King was not part of the group.
Describing the alleged touching by the accused, Roger Daniells-Smith, prosecuting, said: "They were complete strangers to each other.
"It was not an accidental brushing or innocent contact that occasionally happens in crowded bars. This was deliberate and sexual."
The woman responded by saying: "Don't do that, it's not nice. Don't touch me."
Women 'recoiled'
Mr King then turned his attention to other women in the party, the court heard.
Mr Daniells-Smith said: "They, too, recoiled from his touching them and told him very clearly to stop behaving in this manner."
The prosecution alleges that Mr King simply turned his attention back to the eventual victim.
Describing that exchange, Mr Daniells-Smith said that Mr King began: "Don't you know who I am? I'm a millionaire."
The court heard that his alleged victim replied by saying: "I don't care who you are, take your millionaire self away from our table".
He was given further warnings but continued to stroke the woman's hair and then allegedly told her that she was not in his league.
After she pushed him in the chest, Mr King responded with the punch, the court was told.
Mr Daniells-Smith said: "At that moment Marlon King took one step backward and smashed her in the face with a clenched fist. He broke her nose with the blow.
"It was a completely gratuitous piece of violence against a slightly-built female.
"It was unprovoked and could not have been an act of lawful self-defence."
Mr King, who on loan at Hull City at the time, claims he has been mistakenly identified as the assailant.
The trial continues.
Comment