Ex-Newcastle player jailed after punching woman, 60, and throwing chips at her

A former Newcastle United player has been jailed for 20 months after throwing cheesy chips at a 60-year-old woman before leaving her with multiple complex facial fractures following a single punch.

Marcus Maddison, 29, who began his career as a youth team player with Newcastle and has gone on to play for Charlton, Hull and Peterborough among others, broke the woman’s nose after an alcohol-fuelled night out in Darlington on September 22 of last year.

He was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court this morning having previously pleaded guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm without intent at a hearing on June 20.

During a hearing last month, the court heard from prosecutor Robin Turton that on the night of the attack Maddison and a friend left The Gate cocktail bar and went to a kebab shop at 3am before making their way home.

The prosecutor said the footballer exchanged words with the alleged victim’s daughter while walking, saying “F* off, don’t come near me you fat s.” Another person shouted, “You f wait” to which the defendant replied, “You won’t f* catch me.”

Turton said: “Throughout the exchange [Maddison’s friend] was telling the defendant ‘Home Marcus, home’ and later up the street. He heard the defendant say, ‘You come near me and I’m going to pelt these cheesy chips at you’ and he saw the defendant throw his chips with some hitting the victim.”

The court heard that Maddison, who left Darlington FC by mutual consent less than a month after the incident, fell over as he was throwing his food before getting up and punching the woman in the face. Mr Turton said his friend heard a “distinctive pop sound” as the victim fell to the ground.

Recorder Paul Reid said it was a “spontaneous assault, albeit horrific in its nature” and the victim had been struck with “devastating force.” An “oversized ring” worn by Maddison on his right fist was likened to a “knuckle duster”, the court heard.

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Maddison was then accused of fleeing the scene before police officers on Duke Street spotted the woman on the floor holding her face. Mr Turton said: “There was a steady stream of blood coming from what appeared to be a broken nose. She was in the doorway of a shop in Duke Street with her daughter. She was unable to speak due to her injuries.”

The court heard the victim was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital and a CT scan revealed multiple mid-facial bone fractures. In a video interview, the victim said she continues to suffer from numbness to her teeth, damaged sinuses and struggles with dizzy spells, headaches and blackouts.

In a statement following the initial hearing Darlington FC said in a statement: Darlington FC said: “The club were made aware of an alleged incident and conducted an immediate disciplinary investigation.

“After discussion with the player concerned the club agreed to mutually terminate his contract with immediate effect at that time.

“Darlington FC is a fan-owned club and has zero tolerance of discrimination, violence or abusive behaviour. It would be inappropriate for DFC to comment further at this time.”