Ex-cricketer admits common assault and intimidating a witness

A FORMER Gloucestershire cricketer with a drink problem said he would kill a teenager and his father unless they dropped an assault charge against him, a court heard.

Stuart Gould, 33, had held the boy and made a sexual remark to the youngster at the Baileys Court Inn at Bradley Stoke on February 25.

On April 28 Gould then returned to the pub and told someone he would kill them if the charges were not dropped because he would lose his job as an aircraft maintenance engineer.

Gould, of Paxton, Frenchay, later pleaded guilty to charges of common assault and intimidating a witness.

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Janice Eagles, prosecuting, said Gould was drunk when he approached the teenage boy, held him tight to his chest, put his hand across the teenager's genital area and made an inappropriate sexual comment.

However she said the crown accepted on review that the incident could be classed as "drunken horseplay" and nothing more sinister.

Miss Eagles said Gould then returned to the pub two months later when he spoke to a man he knew called Craig Wood.

"Mr Gould approached Mr Wood and said 'Get them to drop the charges or I will kill them'."

Miss Eagles said Gould was told to leave the pub, which he did immediately. The father of the victim of the assault was told what had happened but chose not to tell his son.

Miss Eagles said Gould had no previous convictions for violence but had convictions for drink driving and harassment.

George Threlfall, defending, said Gould was an "emotional and impulsive man who had endured problems with alcohol for a long time but had now given up drink".

Mr Threlfall said Gould had been jailed before for harassing a former partner by sending her 'wish you were here' postcards from various destinations in Europe.

"He was released in 2008 and puts a lot into the community," he said. "He is a former professional cricketer who used to play for Gloucestershire. He is of far more value to society out of prison than he is inside it.

"He is very upset he has caused this young man so much distress and deeply regrets shouting his mouth off to a friend."

Judge David Ticehurst told Gould: "What a stupid thing to do. You have a good job, and have been to prison so know what it is like.

"You got drunk, behaved foolishly, and then went and made it worse."

Gould was given an 18-month community order with 18 months supervision as well as attendance at the thinking skills and alcohol awareness programme.

He must also pay the victim of the common assault £400 compensation and a £60 criminal surcharge.