Dyer sentenced for burglary

Last Modified: 25 Jul 2008
Source: ITN

Footballer Nathan Dyer has been sentenced to community service after admitting burglary.

The Southampton striker pleaded guilty to his part in a raid on a nightclub staffroom in which cash and mobile phones were stolen.

Dyer pleaded guilty at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court to a charge of non-dwelling burglary and was ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.

The 20-year-old said he was ashamed after he admitted rummaging through bags belonging to staff at the Bar Bluu club on Southsea seafront on February 28.

He said he did not steal any of the items during the incident, which involved four other men.

The court was shown CCTV footage which captured Dyer and four others rummaging through the bags as they left through a back exit from the club. The footballer had been given VIP treatment at the club which that night hosted R'n'B star Kano.

Four members of staff reported having a total of £145 in cash, two mobile phones, a driving licence and bank cards stolen, the court heard.

Mark Haslam, defending Dyer, said: "Nathan Dyer accepts that he did look through the bags, although he did not enter the room intending to do so and he did not take any property from these bags.

"While he has a successful career as a professional footballer, he is young and naive and on the evening in question he had been drinking."

Dyer's team-mate Bradley Wright-Phillips indicated earlier this month that he would plead not guilty to the same charge of non-dwelling burglary and he is due to appear before Portsmouth magistrates on September 2 for a committal hearing.

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