Ex-Shrewsbury Town player Lee Collins spared jail term over pub attack
Former Shrewsbury Town footballer Lee Collins has been given a suspended prison sentence for a pub attack that left his victim with a dislocated shoulder.
Collins told a judge he was "deeply sorry" for the attack in which he punched and kicked a man who had gone to a Shropshire pub to celebrate his wedding anniversary.
The 24-year-old, from Telford, who was on loan at League One Shrewsbury earlier this season, carried out the attack at Wellington's Station Hotel pub.
Collins and co-defendant James Mullarky got into an altercation with Donald Campbell. During the attack, 26-year-old Mul-larky threw a pint glass which hit Mr Campbell on the cheek. Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday heard the brawl continued outside the hotel.
The court heard the altercation started when Mr and Mrs Campbell asked Collins – who now earns £600 a week and an additional £200 per game at Northampton Town – and Mullarky to leave their table.
Without warning Collins punched Mr Campbell in the head before throwing more punches. Mullarky then threw the glass at Mr Campbell.
Mr Mark Rees, prosecuting, said: "Outside the pub both defendants punched and kicked Mr Campbell." Mr Stephen Oldham, for Collins, said the attack was completely out of character and his client was 'deeply sorry'.
Collins' manager at Northampton Aidy Boothroyd, who signed the former Thomas Telford School pupil four months ago, told the court: "I've found Lee to be a genuine man, very level headed and a good role model."
Collins, now of Chirk Street, Northampton, and Mullarky, of Teme Avenue, Wellington, previously admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.
Mullarkey was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Collins was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 24 months, ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and placed on a curfew for 12 weeks between 8pm and 6am and told to pay Mr Campbell £2,500.
