Premiership footballer joined in curry house brawl

A Premiership footballer was today ordered to do community service for brawling in an Indian restaurant after a row over the bill.

Curtis Woodhouse, 22, admitted his part in the incident when ‘‘all hell broke loose’’ in the Balti Cuisine in Woodville Road, Cardiff.

Under-21 international Woodhouse had just joined Birmingham City in a £1m transfer when he swore and wielded a chair in the curry house.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Woodhouse was with former school friends Paul Acey, 22 and Ross Fenwick, 21, after Birmingham’s Worthington Cup final match against Liverpool in February 2001.

The court heard that Fenwick started the trouble by throwing food at Cardiff University’s rowing team, trying to provoke a fight or a response.

Prosecutor Jonathan Austin told the court: ‘‘The three sat down to order a meal and the staff tried to persuade them to have a takeaway.

‘‘Fenwick had been throwing bits of food at students on the table. It was quite clearly an attempt to provoke some kind of fight or response.

‘‘They were given their bill and some sort of debate about the bill arose with Fenwick.

‘‘Unpleasant words were said to the waiter about unfairness in the way they had been charged over the bill.

‘‘The three were asked to calm down. Fenwick and the other two stood up and the table was turned over.

‘‘All hell broke loose according to other witnesses. The table went flying and there was glass and cutlery everywhere.

‘‘There was a scrum of people and the waiters were trying to eject the three men. Acey ended up on the floor and was still struggling and lashing out.

‘‘Woodhouse accepts struggling and wielding a chair and calling someone a bastard.’’

The police were called and Fenwick and Acey were both taken away from the scene by ambulance.

Richard Ace, defending Woodhouse, said: ‘‘He has much to lose. He has played two pre-season friendlies and his contract is to last another two years.’’

Woodhouse, of Northfield Crescent, Driffield, East Yorkshire, Acey, of King’s Meadow, Driffield and Fenwick, of Coburn Street, Cathays, Cardiff, all pleaded guilty to affray.

Peter Heywood, defending Fenwick, said he had grown up in Yorkshire with Woodhouse. He had been selling match programmes on the day of the brawl and he accepts that he later behaved like a ‘‘lout’’.

He said Fenwick had graduated from Cardiff University with a 2.2 and he hopes to become a teacher.

Lee Ingham, defending Acey, said he had no part in starting the incident.

Judge Roderick Denyer QC sentenced Woodhouse and Acey to 120 hours community service and Fenwick to 180 hours community service and ordered them to pay costs.

The judge said the case could ‘‘in no way’’ be equated with other recent cases involving professional footballers.

He said: ‘‘There is no purpose to be served in locking you up.’’

The sentencing took place two hours after Woodhouse’s taxi took him to Nottingham instead of Cardiff after he fell asleep, the court heard. The judge accepted his apology.

After the case, Woodhouse said: ‘‘It’s been a long 18 months. I’m relieved it’s over.

‘‘I can now put it behind me. I’m looking forward to the new season.’’