SAINTS hero Matt Le Tissier and his soap star fiancee turned up at court yesterday after the soccer player was allegedly attacked in a Southampton nightspot.

Actress Emily Symons, alias Marilyn in Australian soap Home and Away, accompanied the footballer to Salisbury Crown Court where he told how he was attacked by a Southampton cabbie in the Chicago Rock Caf.

The court heard Martin Richardson threw a beer glass at Le Tissier after spotting him slow-dancing with Richardson's ex-girlfriend.

But Richardson missed the footballer with the pint glass, which hit a woman bystander in the face.

He then struck Le Tissier - who met Ms Symons, 29, when she appeared as Goldilocks in pantomime at the Mayflower Theatre six months ago - on the club's dancefloor, the court was told.

The footballer, who had drank a dozen Malibus that night, told the jury he was a coward for walking away from the incident early on December 20.

Both he and Nicola Geach, who was hit by the glass, needed hospital treatment after suffering cuts to their foreheads.

Richardson denies wounding Le Tissier, 31, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and an alternative charge of wounding him.

The 33-year-old, of Paynes Road, Shirley, has also pleaded not guilty to wounding hospital worker Nicola Geach with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to the Saints player and another allegation of wounding her.

Le Tissier told the court he noticed Richardson's ex-girlfriend, Nicole Vickery, who he had known as a friend for about eight years, with her parents at the Vincents Walk venue.

He said: "I had been drinking that evening at four or five other establishments from 7.30pm and arrived at the club at 11.15pm. Later myself and Nicole had a slow dance and we were very close together. I remember feeling a blow to the left side of my head, where there is still a bump today, and I immediately felt blood coming down my face onto my white shirt."

When asked by Judge David MacLaren-Webster whether it was his training that made him walk away from the dance floor, Le Tissier replied: "No, it was me being a coward, sir."

The soccer hero, who had gone to the club with friends including team-mate Claus Lundekvam, added that he did not know how he was hit.

Jurors heard that Richardson and Miss Vickery had ended a four-year relationship two months before the alleged attack.

Nigel Seed, prosecuting, said the pair and Le Tissier had all arrived at the club separately with their own sets of friends.

He said: "At some point after Mr Le Tissier sat down at Miss Vickery's table, the defendant went over to her and made a hostile remark along the lines of 'Don't speak to me again'.

"While Mr Le Tissier and Miss Vickery were dancing together, Richardson threw what appeared to be a glass across the dance floor which struck Miss Geach - who was dancing with a man - on the forehead and she required stitches for a cut."

Mr Seed said Richardson suddenly struck the Saints striker on his forehead, delivering one or two blows which were seen by bouncers who ejected the cabbie.

Proceeding.

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