Athlete arrested after Stockton assault (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Athlete arrested after Stockton assault
8:00am Tuesday 14th August 2012 in News
By Matt Westcott
Arrested: Richard Kilty
A SPRINTER who branded UK sports bosses “unprofessional” after he failed to make the Olympic team was arrested following a suspected baseball bat attack.
Linford Christie-trained runner Richard Kilty was one of three men arrested for alleged violent disorder following an incident over the weekend.
Police say a 19-year-old man suffered head injuries after being assaulted in the early hours of Sunday, thought to have been hit with a baseball bat or sticks.
About an hour before the 12.20am attack in Stockton, a nearby Vauxhall Corsa was vandalised and the police suspect the two incidents may be linked.
The injured man was taken to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and later released.
Three men, aged 22, 20 and 18, were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. They have been bailed pending further inquiries.
A 21-year-old man, who lives nearby, was awoken by the commotion. He said: “There was screaming and shouting. I heard a noise and jumped out of bed. I just saw loads of people gathered around. It was quite loud.”
The first incident was between 11pm and 11.30pm on Saturday. A black Vauxhall Corsa was damaged and a panel on the car was dented in a car park in West Row, near to Glam nightclub.
Last month Mr Kilty launched a scathing attack on UK Athletics after losing his appeal against his non-selection for the Olympic team.
The 22-year-old, from Stockton, said he wanted nothing more to do with the governing body.
He said he would look at competing for Ireland in future after he lost his appeal against his omission from the 200m team at the London 2012 Games.
He branded the governing body “unprofessional” for not telling him the reason the appeal failed.
Mr Kilty said at the time: “It’s been a dream of mine since I was ten-years-old to compete in a home Olympics.
I feel let down by my governing body.”
Police are appealing for any witnesses to the two incidents to to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555-111.
