Premiership: Footballer accused of pulling wool over jury's eyes

A footballer alleged to have taken part in a street attack on a student is being accused of pulling the wool over the jury's eyes.

A prosecutor claims Leeds United's Lee Bowyer is giving evidence in a calculated manner to mislead the jury.

Nicholas Campbell QC says the shoes Bowyer handed into police were not the ones he was wearing on the night Sarfraz Najeib was attacked. Bowyer denies the charges.

Mr Campbell accused Bowyer of taking part in a chase of a group of men in Leeds city centre with his team mate Jonathan Woodgate and two other men, Paul Clifford and Neale Caveney.

He told Hull Crown Court Bowyer was involved in the attack on Sarfraz Najeib in January last year and fled the scene in a "euphoric state."

He said Bowyer and Caveney then hugged, adding: "You could not resist engaging in a post-score celebration."

He said: "In the attack on Sarfraz Najeib you know that evidence of footwear was left on his cheek, on his jeans and potentially on his forehead.

"Those involved in the attack knew that there was a possibility of linking footwear to that man's body or clothing, and those involved would be anxious to ensure that the shoes they had been wearing did not reach police or forensic scientists."

Bowyer told the court that the shoes he handed into police were the same ones he was wearing that night and said he had never entered Mill Hill.

Bowyer said: "I was not part of any attack and did not injure anyone."

Bowyer, of Leeds, Woodgate, 21, of Middlesbrough, and Clifford and Caveney, both 22 and from Middlesbrough, deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Najeib, 21, of Rotherham, south Yorkshire. The four men also deny affray.