Albion footballers sex assault trial due to start today

Three Brighton and Hove Albion footballers and a former colleague were due to go on trial at the Old Bailey today accused of sexually assaulting a woman.

The four all deny the charges.

Lewis Dunk, 21, Anton Rodgers, 19, and George Barker, 21, also deny voyeurism along with 21-year-old Steve Cook, who has since joined Bournemouth.

The players were remanded on bail at Lewes Crown Court on Friday 3 August until today (Monday 21 January) when their trial was set to begin.

They were arrested by Sussex Police on Thursday 19 January last year.

They were held on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman at the Jury’s Inn Hotel by Brighton Station on Sunday 17 July 2011 after the Sussex Senior Cup Final.

Two other players were arrested at the same time – Tommy Elphick, 24, and Ben Sampayo, 19.

Tommy Elphick was quickly eliminated from the investigation. Ben Sampayo has since been told that he will not be charged and faces no further no action.

The trial is taking place at the Central Criminal Court – known as the Old Bailey – in London.