South African police are investigating charges of assault and verbal abuse against British footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones, after complaints made by three women following a raucous party, a representative said on Sunday.
Mary Martins-Engelbrecht said the charges were laid at a Cape Town police station against the film star, and former hard man of English football, who was in the city for a movie shoot.
”Three cases have been opened against the English soccer and film star. One of indecent assault, one of common assault and one of crimen injuria,” said senior Superintendent Martins-Engelbrecht.
She did not identify the accused, but police sources confirmed it was Jones. The charges laid by the three women, identified by the Johannesburg-based Sunday Times newspaper as Catherine Taylor, and sisters Stefane and Leanne Loots, related to an incident at a party in an upmarket Cape Town suburb early on Saturday.
Martins-Engelbrecht said statements had been taken at Cape Town’s Sea Point police station, including one from Jones, who was accompanied by a lawyer.
She added the docket would be handed to the Western Cape provincial director of public prosecutions, for a decision on whether or not Jones would be prosecuted, on Tuesday.
In a statement, Jones’ lawyer Zeynab Mayet said his client declined to comment but: ”He denies all of the allegations and has voluntarily come forward to assist the police in their investigations. Jones has been very distressed by the allegations.” – Sapa-AFP