Published at 14:01, Tuesday, 28 September 2010

Carlisle United striker Gary Madine has been warned he could be sent to prison for knocking a man unconscious in a city pub.

Gary Madine

Madine, who has just turned 20 years old, had previously pleaded not guilty to causing actual bodily harm to the man in The Beehive pub in Warwick Road on February 27.

But at the city’s Crown Court today he changed that plea to guilty.

The charge followed an incident in which the 6ft 3in striker punched and kicked Brian Mounsey, who is understood to be a Blues supporter.

After entering his plea, Madine, dressed in a black open neck shirt and black suit, was remanded on bail. Another hearing will have to be held to decide exactly what Madine did.

He claims he hit Mr Mounsey once as a ‘pre-emptive strike’ fearing he himself was going to be hit and that he kicked him gently to the body as he lay on the floor.

But witnesses say they saw him aiming a deliberate kick to his head.

Carlisle’s resident judge Paul Batty QC warned him that all options – including custody – would be open when he was sentenced, depending on what was decided at the next hearing.

Madine pleaded guilty on the basis that “in a mistaken belief that he was under attack he punched out once at Mr Mounsey in a pre-emptive strike, using excessive force.

“When Mr Mounsey fell to the floor Madine made a reactive kick to the body with minimal force which caused no injury.”

The court heard that some witnesses, including licensee Michael Wheatley and deputy general manager Sarah Mawson, told police they had seen Madine kick Mr Mounsey deliberately.

Mr Wheatley described a single kick to the head whereas Ms Mawson spoke of two kicks to the head “heavier than a tap.”

Judge Batty said: “This is a case where there ought to be a fact finding exercise as to the culpability of Mr Gary Madine, whether it was a pre-emptive strike as he describes it and whether or not he made a reactive kick to the body with minimal force.”

The judge said the result of that hearing next month would dictate what sort of sentence was imposed.

Madine, who comes from Birtley, Chester-le-Street, in County Durham, lives in Warwick Road, Carlisle.

Speaking after the hearing, United managing director John Nixon told the News & Star: “Gary will be travelling with the team for tonight’s match at Hartlepool. Whether or not he plays is solely a matter for the manager.”

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk