Cole escapes wife assault charges

Footballer Andy Cole will face no further action over allegations he assaulted his wife, police said today.

Cole, 36, was arrested in the early hours of February 25 at his home in Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

He was due to answer bail today but a Cheshire Police spokesman said Cole had been told he did not need to answer bail and that was the end of the matter.

“He has been told he doesn’t need to turn up and there’s no further action to be taken,” he said.

Cole, who was born in Nottingham, married his long-term girlfriend Shirley Dewar at St Bartholomew’s Church, in Wilmslow, Cheshire, in July 2002.

The former England player is currently on loan to Burnley from Sunderland.

At his peak, the striker played for Newcastle, Manchester United and Blackburn.