29 April 2024 , 13:22
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England rugby player Billy Vunipola has been handed a four-month suspended prison sentence and fined €240 (£205) after being arrested for assaulting police during a drunken night out at a Majorcan club.
The 6ft 2in 19-stone giant admitted at lunchtime in a statement he had been fined at a speedy trial in court on Monday but made no mention of the prison sentence, which was suspended as part of a plea bargain deal with prosecutors.
Court officials in Majorca confirmed: "English rugby player Billy Vunipola has been given a four-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of €240 for resisting the law and wounding.
"The accused man, who admitted wrongdoing at a speedy trial, must compensate the person he injured with €500. Palma's Court of Instruction Number Eight, acting as a duty court, held the speedy trial yesterday.
"He pleaded guilty to the resisting the law charge and a minor crime of wounding. He was ordered to pay his fine at 12 euros a day over 20 days. He acknowledged he was in a late-night bar in Palma which officers attended following an altercation.
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"The man stated he did not obey police orders and at one point when they tried to overpower him, he lunged at one of them and caused him an injury. The sentence cannot be appealed."
A written three-page sentencing document issued after the court hearing states the police officer hurt suffered injuries to his wrist and finger. Prison sentences of two years or less in Spain are normally suspended for first-time offenders.
Vunipola, 31, said in a statement earlier on Monday: "I can confirm I was involved in an unfortunate misunderstanding when I was leaving a club in Majorca on Sunday, which got out of hand. Contrary to media reports there was no violence, no fight and I did not threaten anybody at any stage, with bottles or chairs or anything else.
Billy Vunipola released a statement before his sentence was confirmed (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)"I was charged with resisting the law and, following an 'express trial', I have paid a fine of €240. The Spanish police investigation is now closed and I am flying back to the UK today. I will obviously co-operate with the Saracens internal process and unreservedly apologise for any inconvenience to all involved."
His club, Saracens, added: "We are aware of an incident involving Billy Vunipola in Majorca. We will of course deal with this incident internally, and will not make any further comment until then."
Vunipola has made a total of 75 appearances for England, although wasn't called up by head coach Steve Borthwick ahead of this year's six Nations. The 31-year-old forward was a second-half substitute for Saracens during their 15-12 win against Bath on Friday night before going on holiday, as his team aren't back in action until Saturday, May 11.