Rooney Cautioned Over Photographer Spitting Incident

Wayne Rooney has been forced to write a letter of apology after spitting at a paparazzi photographer.

Police cautioned the Manchester United and England striker after he admitted spitting at Lee Simmons as he left a Central London restaurant with his wife Coleen earlier this year.

The footballer was questioned under caution after the incident which took place outside the Hakkasan Chinese restaurant in Hanway Place, near Oxford Street, on July 29.

While a caution is not a criminal conviction, it will still be recorded on the police database.

Rooney, 22, was first questioned over the incident in July but was not arrested. In law, deliberately spitting at someone is an offence of common assault.

A police spokesman said: "A 22-year-old man attended a central London Police station by prior arrangement.

"The man received a caution for common assault in relation to an incident which occurred in Hanway Place."

According to The Sun newspaper, Rooney first turned up at the police station on Thursday morning, however, was turned away because he did not bring his letter of apology, which was part of the settlement.

(JM)