‘Fame and wealth bring responsibility,’ judge tells Byrne

WIMBLEDON defender Des Byrne was convicted yesterday of possessing a bottle as an offensive weapon during a row outside a nightclub.

The jury at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court in London convicted the Dublin-born Byrne by a majority of 10 to two. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

Judge Fabyan Evans told Byrne: "You are a young man who has yet to learn that fame and wealth bring responsibility."

Chelsea football star John Terry burst into tears as he was cleared of glassing a nightclub bouncer in the face.

Team-mate Jody Morris also walked free from court after being cleared over an alleged attack on doorman Trevor Thirlwall.

Mr Thirlwall, 28, had spent four days in the witness box describing how his left eye "exploded in blood" when Terry hit him with a beer bottle outside the exclusive Wellington nightclub in Knightsbridge, central London in the early hours of January 4.

He claimed Terry and Byrne, later aided by Morris, rushed into the club reception and started punching after they had been thrown out.

The footballers all said they were the victims, not the aggressors, in a fracas which also involved Mr Thirlwall's brother, the professional boxer Matthew Thirlwall, and another bouncer Shaun Brice.

When he gave evidence Terry, a former England under-21 captain, wept as he denied using a bottle. He admitted punching Mr Thirlwall once in the face a punch which broke a bone in his hand but claimed it was self defence after the doorman attacked him.

Terry, 21, was cleared of charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, unlawful wounding, possession of a bottle as an offensive weapon and affray.

Morris, 23, and Byrne, 21, were both cleared of affray.

Byrne hugged his barrister after the verdicts.