Ex-Town footballer admits assault

Jane Hunt

FORMER Ipswich Town footballer Darryl Knights lost his temper and assaulted two men after remarks were made about his brother who had been seriously injured in an horrific accident.

The 20-year-old, who now plays for Kidderminster Harriers in the Blue Square Premier division, had denied assaulting two men causing them actual bodily harm but decided to change his plea to one of the charges at a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday (Wed).

Knights, who grew up in Ipswich but now lives in Kidderminster, admitted assaulting James Wells causing him actual bodily harm on May 24 last year. He maintained his not guilty plea to a charge of assaulting Martel Adams causing him actual bodily harm on May 24 last year but admitted a less serious charge of common assault and this plea was accepted by the prosecution.

In a basis of plea read to the court, Knights said he had lost his temper after remarks were made about his brother who had been seriously ill.

Judge Neil McKittrick adjourned the case until the week commencing June 15 for a pre-sentence report and told Knights, who is on unconditional bail, that all sentencing options would be open to the court on his return.

In February, before Knights entered pleas to the charges against him, Mark Yates, the manager of Kidderminster Harriers, said the club would stand by Knights.

Knights' younger brother Kyle was seriously injured along with another teenager in an horrific crash at the junction of Orford Street and Anglesea Road, Ipswich, in August 2007.

Kyle, who was 16 at the time and had been riding a moped, suffered severe head injuries and was initially in a coma.

He endured months of gruelling rehabilitation and has since astonished doctors with his miraculous turnaround since the accident.

The former Chantry High School pupil is now hoping to do a plumbing course at Suffolk College in September.