Footballer given community work for assault

Troubled ex-Premier League striker Nile Ranger was handed a 12-month community order yesterday for pulling his girlfriend’s hair during a row.

The 21-year-old former Newcastle United player admitted common assault on Shakira Bicar outside the city’s Gate entertainment complex at around 7pm on March 13.

London-born Ranger was released by Newcastle United following a series of off-pitch problems.

Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard that the row happened when Ms Bicar was out with a male work colleague to organise a social event. Ranger was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work during a 12-month community order, nine months of which will be supervised.