Stars deny assault charges

11:22am Friday 5th September 2008

WOLVES star Stuart Reardon and St Helens playmaker Leon Pryce have denied assault charges as they appeared before magistrates.

The Great Britain rugby league players, both aged 26 and from Clayton Heights, in Bradford pleaded not guilty to a charge of threatening or using violence to secure entry to a property at Westwood Hall, Peregrine Way, Clayton Heights, on July 12 this year.

Pryce, of Grebe Close, also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Damon O’Brien on the same date. Reardon, of Woodlark Close, pleaded not guilty to assaulting his wife Kay, also on July 12.

Prosecutor Charles Macrae withdrew a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Pryce and replaced it with the lesser charge of battery.

Bradford magistrates adjourned the case for six weeks when a trial date is expected to be fixed.

Both men were granted conditional bail but will not have to appear at the next hearing - allowing Pryce to play for England in the World Cup.