RL stars 'should be ashamed of brawl thuggery'

TWO Super League players were told by a judge they should "hang their heads in shame" for their part in a brawl while on a night out in Leeds.

Dimitri Marc Pelo, 25 and Setaimata Sa, 22, were both playing for Catalan Dragons, based in Perpignan, when they were involved in a violent confrontation with four other men in the early hours of February 8 which began after Pelo spat at one of the other group.

Imposing suspended prison sentences on the players at Leeds Crown Court yesterday, Judge Kerry Macgill said thuggery was the only word for such behaviour.

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"I sit in this seat day in, day out watching and having to watch CCTV of what absolute idiots like you get involved in."

He said it was an aggravating feature that the drunken behaviour involved people who called themselves athletes.

"You two have the benefit and advantage of a career in professional rugby. That carries with it responsibility, as I am sure your supporters and club coaches make it clear."

Pelo was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with 250 costs and was ordered to pay 1,000 compensation to Craig MacDonald who was injured after stepping in as a peacemaker.

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Sa, was given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with 250 costs and was ordered to pay 1,000 compensation to defendant Jamie Todd.

Both admitted affray as did Adam Lynch, 22 and his brother Andrew, 29, both of Langley Road, Bramley, Leeds who were each given a 12-month community order with 150 hours unpaid work and 250 costs.

Samuel Todd, 19 of Moorside Street, Bramley, was given a six-month community order with 60 hours unpaid work and 250 costs while his brother Jamie, 29, of Leeds and Bradford Road, Bramley, was given a conditional discharge with 250 costs after both admitted threatening behaviour.

Michael Smith, prosecuting, said Pelo and Sa had played against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats the previous day. The incident in the early hours of February 8 was captured on CCTV in Boar Lane after they had been out drinking.

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The other four men had been at a charity event at Bramley Rugby League Club before going into the city centre. The trouble began when Pelo accepted he spat at one of the Lynch brothers.

Punches began to be thrown and Pelo then took Adam Lynch to the floor where he had him in a headlock. Andrew Lynch then began punching Pelo on the arm to make him let go.

Mr Smith said when Pelo did let go, Adam Lynch then kicked and punched him for about 30 seconds. Meanwhile Jamie Todd had been restraining Sa from joining in the violence on the floor but was then assaulted by the player and ended up on the ground "out cold".

A man dressed in a dalmatian fancy dress costume stepped in to try and stop the violence and other members of the public and Catalan players also began to pull people away.

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Mr Smith said even then Pelo and Sa did not go quietly. Pelo made a clenched fist and struck out at one of those taking him away, presumably a team-mate.

All six were traced that night and arrested. Pelo admitted spitting but said he was then set upon. Sa said he intervened to help his friend.

Both sets of brothers said they had gone to the Birdcage after the charity event at Bramley and were walking in Boar Lane when Adam Lynch was spat at.

Jamie told the police the next thing he remembered was waking up in hospital. Andrew Stranex, representing him, said he had suffered most that night. His group had been drawn into events by the players' actions.

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Nicholas Lumley, for Sa and Pelo, said both had been affected by drink. "This was a grotesque incident and it was pure good fortune nobody received greater injuries."

Their remorse was genuine and Pelo had already received an element of punishment, since not only was he attacked himself but Catalan Dragons had not renewed his contract "and he is unlikely to play in the Super League again".

TALENT SPOTTED IN AUSTRALIA

Winger Dimitri Pelo was born in New Caledonia but emigrated to Australia with his parents and after playing schoolboy rugby league was spotted by a club in Sydney.

He represented Australia schoolboys before being called up by the French national team in 2007.

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Samoan Sa was also spotted while playing as a youngster in Australia and was signed by the Sydney Roosters. The second row centre was in the 2008 Kiwi world cup squad.

The court was told in spite of his success he had a troubled childhood and suffers from depression which his counsel Nicholas Lumley said was "the sort of illness that proud sportsmen inevitably do not discuss".

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