Karl Anderson, 29, has been jailed for 16 weeks after he admitted racially assaulting Manchester City's Raheem Sterling.
29-year-old Karl Anderson has been jailed for 16 weeks after he admitted racially assaulting Manchester City and England footballer Raheem Sterling
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) December 20, 2017
It had been reported that the Greater Manchester Police were investigating an incident where Sterling was allegedly kicked and racially abused as he arrived at City's Etihad campus on Saturday morning before the Premier League table topper's beat Spurs 4-1 that evening, with Sterling scoring twice.
A GMP spokesperson said:
On Sunday 17 December 2017, police were made aware that a 23-year-old man had been subject to a racially aggravated assault on Clayton Lane on Saturday 16 December. Hate crime will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester and can be reported via the True Vision website at report-it.org.uk.
But, earlier today Karl Anderson pled guilty to racially aggravated common assault at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and was sentenced to 16 weeks in custody. The court was told how Anderson, 29, kicked and racially abused Sterling and was shown CCTV footage of Anderson (who has a history of football related violence) driving along beside Sterling as he arrived at City's training facility, as Sterling got out of his vehicle, so did Anderson who then began to shout racial abuse at Sterling.
'You black Scouse c***". I hope your mother and child wake up dead in the morning you n*****.'
He then delivered four kicks to Sterling's legs.
Sterling, who obviously suffered no serious injuries in the incident, was said to have been completely shocked by the disgusting and unprovoked attack. Sterling echoed what I'm sure is all of our thoughts on the matter when he said "I didn't think this type of behaviour still happened in this country in this day and age."
Sentencing, chairman of the bench Diana Webb-Hobson said when sentencing Anderson:
'This was an entirely unprovoked attack. You stopped your car and you got out. The personal statement was very moving, we find injury was sustained. Your previous record was appalling, you don't seem to learn anything, do you?'
Anderson was quoted as saying he was "now finding alternative ways to express violence and aggression, all relating to football" and has apoligised to Mr. Sterling.
Raheem Sterling has been a real bright spot in Manchester City's amazing season so far having netted 11 goals in 16 Premier League appearances. City sit 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League and just last night beat Leicester City on penalties to book their place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
