A Preston player has appeared in court charged with assault and stalking; in the same week a Sunderland footballer denies sexual assault.
Preston youngster Finlay Cross-Adair, 18, appeared in court on charges of a number of offences, with club director Peter Ridsdale in the public gallery supporting him according to Lancs Live.
Cross-Adair, who signed his first contract with the Lilywhites in December 2022, appeared in court after being arrested.
He was charged on seven counts, including stalking, assault and coercive or controlling behaviour in a family relationship.
The offence dates range from January through June of 2023 while stalking is alleged to have occurred between May and July and coercive behaviour between January and June.
Finlay Cross-Adair appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court charged with a string of offences including several counts of assault and stalkinghttps://t.co/pIm3CAZCF3
— Lancs Live (@LiveLancs) June 3, 2023
Peter Ridsdale, the club’s director, sat in the public gallery with Cross-Adair’s solicitor Mitch Sarangi.
Bail was opposed by prosecutor Antonia Walters, but Cross-Adair’s solicitor Mitch Sarangi put forward a bail conditions with the support of Preston bosses.
Boyhood Preston fan Cross-Adair, who has trained with the senior team since September 2022, came on as a sub against Stoke and Blackburn Rovers.
Cross-Adair was granted bail by the Magistrates with several conditions, including that he doesn’t enter the town of Longridge and reside at his grandparents’ address in Waingate, he does not contact any witnesses or the victim, and attend club training for six days per week.
Cross-Adair is scheduled to appear before Preston Crown Court again on the 30th of June for a hearing regarding a plea agreement and preparation of upcoming trial.
Preston describe hiim via their official website as a “hard-working centre forward, who also occasionally starred on the wing, weighed in with eight goals, the most memorable of which was undoubtedly a well-taken strike in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup final to restore North End’s lead over Luton.
“Cross-Adair is a local lad – and a huge PNE fan – who has worked his way through the North End youth ranks and now, as the leading striker in Nick Harrison’s side, will be trying to capture first team manager Ryan Lowe’s interest during the 2022/23 season.”
Meanwhile, on Friday, Sunderland owned player Jack Diamond has appeared at court charged with rape and sexual assault.
🚨 Sunderland footballer Jack Diamond pleads not guilty to charge of sexual assault. He was not arraigned to enter a plea for an additional charge of rape at Newcastle Crown Court today. https://t.co/vIJufFjoAJ
— Sami Mokbel (@SamiMokbel81_DM) June 2, 2023
The 23-year old is accused of assaulting a woman twice at a house in Tyne and Wear and arrived at Newcastle Crown Court where he denied a single count of sexual assault.
The winger didn’t enter a guilty plea for the rape charge he was also charged with.
Diamond was released on bail and a provisional trial date of the 2nd of January 2024 has been set.
According to reports, the alleged crimes took place between May 6th and May 9th of 2022.
He had been on a loan to League One club Lincoln City before the contract was terminated.
A spokesperson said: “Sunderland AFC has been notified that criminal charges have been brought against Jack Diamond by the Crown Prosecution Service.
“The player has been suspended with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the judicial process, and his loan agreement at Lincoln City Football Club has also been terminated.
“As this matter is subject to a legal process, the club will not be making any further statement at this time.”
Diamond played a total of 45 times for Sunderland, including when they won the Papa John’s Trophy in 2021.
For 2022/23, he scored eight goals in 36 games for the Imps.
His rep previously released a statement, saying: “Jack Diamond strenuously denies the allegations which have been made against him.
“Jack is looking forward to clearing his name in court.”
Meanwhile, 10 months ago, the Telegraph reports that Premier League and EFL footballers were to receive sexual consent training amid the latest allegations against players in recent times.
New rules for the face-to-face training have been put in place this season to all players as a result of pressure on the league and the Football Association to act.
Until last year, the Premier League had only decided to run workshops for academy and first-team players from under-14s to under-23s.
Content included sexual relationships, seeking consent, and understanding sexual harassment and bullying.
However, such training was not compulsory for all senior professionals, and this reportedly sparked criticism and there are no demands for a widespread reform.
Clubs failing to introduce the new training, to be delivered by safeguarding professionals, will face disciplinary action.
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