Ex-Wales star guilty of assault (From Free Press Series)

Ex-Wales star guilty of assault

SHAMED football star Mark Aizlewood was told to pay £1,800 in fines and costs on Monday, after being found guilty of a frightening attack on a BBC journalist.

Former Wales international Aizlewood, previously employed as technical director of Football Association of Wales Trust, was ordered to pay a fine and costs after assaulting consumer journalist Jane Harvey and breaching public order by using threatening behaviour towards a BBC cameraman.

Cardiff Magistrates Court heard how Aizlewood, aged 44, of Fedw Wood, Chepstow, put his hands around the neck of Miss Harvey and pushed her down a flight of five steps.

The incident was partly caught on camera and Aizlewood was heard to shout: "Get out of my office girl, you are not stitching me up."

He also scuffled with camera operator Mark Dolman, trying to grab his camera and threatening to throw it.

The incident occurred after Aizlewood had agreed to give an interview to the BBC Wales consumer affairs programme X-Ray regarding the FAWT's involvement with a company that offered football holidays abroad.

The programme had received complaints from parents who had paid £700 per child on an International Academy holiday, endorsed by the FAWT.

Aizlewood agreed to an interview at his office in Cooper's Yard, off Penarth Road in Cardiff, on June 10, 2003, but told the court that he had been instructed by FAWT trustees to answer only one question regarding the matter and had discussed this with producer Barbara Lewis beforehand.