20/05/2004

Gillespie sees sex assault charges dropped

The three former Premiership football stars at the centre of sexual assault scandal have had the charges against them dropped.

Northern Ireland international, Keith Gillespie, along with club mates Paul Dickov and Frank Sinclair, had been accused of assaulting three women in the Spanish resort of La Manga last February.

All three players had initially been charged with 'sexual aggression' following an alleged incident involving three German women at a hotel where Leicester City had set up a training camp.

Welcoming today's news, the former Premiership side said it was pleased that a "very difficult time for a large number of players and their families is now at an end".

The statement added: "Our players have consistently pleaded their innocence of all the charges made against them and they are delighted that their innocence has now been recognised by the Spanish authorities.

"As a club, we have consistently maintained our total faith in the Spanish judicial system and welcome the news that justice has been seen to be done."

Mr Dickov, Mr Sinclair and Mr Gillespie were formally released in March on combined bail of £196,500 after spending a week in a jail in Murcia.

Today's news will be welcome respite for Mr Gillespie as he embarks on an eight-day, three-match tour of the Caribbean with the Northern Ireland national team.

(GMcG/MB)

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