Wife-beater Dean 'Will talk to you for £30,000': Sick offer after court's 'let off'

By Adrian Addison

SOCCER rat Dean Holdsworth yesterday escaped with a probation order for viciously punching his wife - then tried to SELL his sickening story for Pounds 30,000.

Women's groups immediately blasted the lenient sentence and condemned the Bolton Wanderers striker for trying to cash in on his disgusting behaviour.

Justice For Women said the courts should have made an example of Holdsworth, who left wife Sam, 30, with a split lip needing TEN STITCHES. Spokeswoman Julie Bindel added: "Asking for money makes it worse. It's outrageous."

Holdsworth, 31, thumped Sam after they rowed about him dancing with another girl at a charity bash. He was given 18 months' probation and ordered to attend domestic violence classes after admitting assault before JPs in Southport, Merseyside.

After the case, Holdsworth's agent David Hahn tried to sell his story to newspapers.

Hahn told The Sun: "This is worth at least Pounds 30,000. I don't think that's unreasonable."

Greedy

But Geraldine Flanagan of the Women's Aid National Helpline said: "What story is he going to tell? 'How I Beat Up My Wife and Got Away With It'?

"This is sick and greedy. Footballers think they can do what they want." She added: "The Sun told recently how Gazzas's wife was used as a punchbag. It's happening more and more.

"These men are role models for millions of kids who'll be tomorrow's husbands and boyfriends. What sort of message does it send them?

"Holdsworth should at least have had a long community service order."

Holdsworth, who makes Pounds 12,000 a week, was saved from a stiffer sentence by Sam, who told JPs she had provoked the attack and he had acted in self-defence.

Stormy

She wanted to drop the charge but prosecutors decided to press ahead because the case was "in the public interest."

Holdsworth, of Formby, Merseyside, and Sam have had a stormy relationship, splitting for a while after he had an affair with busty porn star Linsey Dawn McKenzie.

An injunction later barred him from being aggressive to mum-of-two Sam after he turned up at their house drunk and refused to leave.

After the case, Holdsworth's lawyer said: "He doesn't condone in any way what he's done and greatly regrets his action."

December 10, 1999 | Sun, The (London, England). Author/Byline: Adrian Addison