Jail warning to French RL players over brawl

Dimitri Marc Pelo, 25, and Setaimata Sa, 22, who both play for Catalans Dragons based in Perpignan, France, appeared at Leeds Crown Court yesterday alongside four men from Leeds.

Both pleaded guilty to affray in the early hours of February 8 after the French club had lost against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats the day before.

The same charge was also admitted by Adam Lynch, 22 and Andrew Lynch, 29, both of Langley Road, Bramley, Leeds.

Samuel Todd, 19, of Moorside Street, Bramley and his brother Jamie Michael Todd, 29 of Leeds and Bradford Road, Bramley, who work for a family-run recycling firm both denied affray but admitted threatening behaviour which was accepted by the prosecution.

Jonathan Sharp prosecuting told the court the charges resulted from a street brawl in the early hours. Neither of the players, of Malibu Village, Perpignan, had anything previous recorded against them in this country.

Judge Sally Cahill QC agreed to adjourn the case for pre-sentence reports but warned those admitting affray: "Street violence is something that this court takes very seriously and one option the court will look at will be prison, that is one matter the reports will address."

She was asked to avoid sentencing on some dates in August when the Catalans team, currently in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup hope to be training for the final or when other defendants had holidays booked.

A date for the hearing was agreed when the players are due in Yorkshire to play Leeds Rhinos.