Footballers face crown court trial

AFC Bournemouth defender Steve Cook and three Brighton and Hove Albion footballers will face a crown court trial accused of sexual assault and voyeurism next month.

Steve Cook along with Brighton players Tommy Elphick, Anton Rodgers, Lewis Dunk, George Barker and Ben Sampayo, were arrested in January on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman in Brighton on 17th July 2011.

All the men were originally released on bail until 21st March, pending further inquiries by officers.

Brighton defender Tommy Elphick was later eliminated from the investigation but on 21st March, Cook along with the four remaining Brighton players were re-bailed until 16th May while investigations continued.

On 30th April Ben Sampayo was told no further action would be taken against him, however Cook, Rodgers, Dunk and Barker were charged and appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on 11th May. All four men indicated pleas of not guilty to both charges and all four were granted conditional bail to return to the same court on 6th July.

On that date, Cook and his former team mates were informed that they would face trial at Lewes Crown Court, beginning on 3rd August.



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