07 July 2023 , 14:01
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Bristol Rovers footballer Jevani Brown has been fined £5,000 for assaulting one woman and using threatening behaviour to another outside a nightclub in Exeter. The striker learnt of his punishment at Exeter Magistrates Court on Friday morning with alcohol blamed as playing “a significant part” in the altercation.
Brown was suspended by Exeter City when the assault occurred in February and pleaded guilty to one count of assault during an initial hearing in March. The 28-year-old has since agreed to sign for Rovers on a two-year deal.
He admitted spitting at a woman after she intervened while he argued with bouncers outside the Vaults nightclub.
The court was told the woman pulled Brown’s dreadlocks twice before he slapped her in the face, leaving bruising. Another woman then got involved and said she was afraid of being assaulted. Brown admitted to using threatening behaviour towards the woman.
Jevani Brown has since joined Bristol Rovers, signing a two-year deal with the club. (Dave Crawford/PPAUK)In a letter to the court, Brown “apologised wholeheartedly” for his actions and he blamed alcohol. The court heard that he has been receiving counselling from the Professional Footballers’ Association for issues with alcohol since 2021.
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District Judge Stuart Smith stressed the importance of professional footballers being role models and said: "This incident is clearly out of character as you are usually kind, gentle and laid-back. No doubt alcohol played a significant part contributing to your behaviour on this day.
"This will be a blemish on your previous good character," he added. "As a professional footballer you are a role model to many thousands of young people with a great influence on their decisions and lives.
"Perhaps more than most you have a responsibility to set good standards and be that role model. Your behaviour can clearly have far reaching consequences, with many believing this behaviour is acceptable."
Brown was fined £5,000 for the assault and the judge said he must pay £250 compensation to the victim of the assault and £100 to the victim of the threatening behaviour in addition to £2,135 in costs and victim surcharge fees.