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Monday 18 March 2019

Scholes Junior Convicted of Assault


The son of Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has been convicted of assaulting a former school friend.

Arron Scholes, 19, stood trial at Tameside Magistrates' Court earlier today.

District Judge Sam Goozee heard that Scholes, a Royton Town footballer, lashed out at Robert Kemper after a disagreement at The Granby Arms, Oldham.

CCTV footage from the pub shows Scholes pushing Mr Kemper onto an outside table and punching him, before being ushered away from his bloodied opponent.

Scholes, of Grasscroft, Oldham, is then said to have reached for his mobile phone, jumped up and down and laughed hysterically at the injuries he had inflicted on Mr Kemper.

Prosecutor Lucy Bridge said: "The landlady went outside and she saw the victim on his back being attacked by Arron Scholes. She was able to say that Robert Kemper did not retaliate at any time and she described the situation as an unprovoked attack."

Landlady, Deborah Hardy, who said she knows both men as customers, told the court from the witness box that she "ran out" of the pub after seeing Scholes hit Mr Kemper for the first time in the doorway.

She said: "I saw a man who put his arm around Arron (inside the pub) and whispered something in his ear.

"That's when he went out and began to attack Robert.

"He just ran out and he punched him. I went out and I saw Arron had him over a bench and was just punching and punching him.

"He punched him four or five times.

"He (Mr Kemper) wasn't doing anything I could see, he was just trying to defend himself from the blows."

She says after two of Scholes' friends pulled him away he began "jumping up and down" and "laughing hysterically."

She also said: "He (Scholes) got his phone out, took a picture of his (Mr Kemper's) face, walked over and hit him again."

Challenged on this by the defence she said: "I know what I saw and it was disgusting."

Scholes had admitted striking Mr Kemper from the outset, but claimed to have done so because he feared being assaulted himself.

Judge Goozee rejected Scholes' claim of self defence.

The Judge commented: "This was an incident that blew up very quickly.

"I find and accept you were both in drink that night.

"I find an insulting comment was made as they entered the Granby Arms, although it is not clear exactly who that comment was aimed at.

"There's no evidence of any threatening behaviour by Robert Kemper.

"You Arron Scholes struck out with force. You struck him once in the vestibule, pushed him outside onto a table and punched him again.

"Your actions went beyond reasonable force to defend yourself and although it is completely out of character, I find the assault did take place and that the charge is proved."

The matter was adjourned for sentence later this month, with the Judge indicating that he was minded to impose a community order.

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