Neville father 'in drunken assault', court hears

The father of former Premier League and England football stars Gary and Phil Neville sexually assaulted a woman after having “far too much to drink”, a jury has heard.

Neville Neville, 63, is on trial at Bolton Crown Court accused of a single count of assault by penetration.

The incident is said to have taken place in Bury, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of March 23.

Neville, of Larkfield Close, Bury, denies the offence.

His two sons sat in the public gallery as the case against him was outlined.

The jury of eight women and four men was told that Neville knew his 46-year-old accuser.

The incident happened following a night out in which the alleged victim offered the defendant a lift home in her car in the cold, snowy conditions at the time.

Peter Cadwallader, prosecuting, said when she was about to drop him off near his home, he suddenly “lunged” at her and forced his tongue in her mouth.

She said she told him to stop but he persisted and grabbed her breast before he pushed his hand down her trousers and inside her underwear, the prosecutor said.

When she later reported the matter to the police, married Neville did not deny the incident took place but told detectives it was consensual.

“He accepted what she said had physically happened did happen, save for that it was all with consent.”

Mr Cadwallader told the jury: “The Crown say it was not consensual and he knew full well it was not consensual because she told him so.”