Leicester trio cleared of sex assault charges in Spain

THREE Leicester City players accused of attacking three women during a training break in Spain had all charges against them dropped yesterday.

Lawyers for Keith Gillespie, Paul Dickov and Frank Sinclair successfully applied for them to be cleared yesterday morning, club chief executive Tim Davies said.

Prosecution lawyers have a short time period to appeal the decision.

Davies said: "All charges have been dropped against all the players."

He said they would not have to go to Spain to be formally cleared.

Judge Jacinto Areste granted the application at a court hearing in Cartagena, southern Spain.

In a statement, Leicester City said: "The club welcomes the news that all criminal charges have been withdrawn. We are pleased that what has been a very difficult time for a large number of players and their families is now at an end.

"They are delighted that their innocence has now been recognised.

"As a club, we have consistently maintained our total faith in the Spanish judicial system and welcome the news that justice has been seen to be done."

Davies said he had no indication as to whether there would be an appeal against the decision.

Yesterday's legal move follows the results of forensic tests earlier in the week which showed no link between the alleged victims and their accusers.

News of the World revelations that the women had offered an undercover reporter a night of passion in exchange for money also formed part of the bid.

Gillespie, 29, a Northern Irish international, Dickov, 31, a Scotland player and Sinclair, 32, have always insisted they were innocent.

They were on a training break at La Manga with the team when the allegations were made in March.

After being arrested, they were detained at the Sangonera jail near Murcia.

All three were released on bail following a 15-hour court session.

The hearing included a dramatic face-to-face meeting or "careo" between one of the players and one of the women, staged to allow the judge to assess the validity of statements.

Yesterday's move also leaves Matt Elliott, Lilian Nalis, James Scowcroft, Nikos Dabizas and Danny Coyne in the clear.

They had been on bail following the initial allegations, with Scowcroft ordered to pay €20,000 bail and attend a Spanish consulate twice a month.

A ninth player, Steffen Freund, had already been released without charge.

The arrests related to allegations of a drunken attack on three women at the five-star Hyatt Regency Hotel in La Manga, southern Spain.

Part of the new evidence looked at by the judge related to suggestions that the alleged victims, who live in Germany, were prostitutes, a claim they have denied.

Gillespie said in a statement: "I am delighted we have all been totally vindicated in this matter.

"Hopefully, our lives can get back to normal as quickly as possible and we can concentrate single-mindedly on the football."