Ex-Quaker punched woman, 60

By Neil Harvey

FORMER Peterborough United and Charlton Athletic midfielder Marcus Maddison has been told he could face jail after punching a 60-year-old woman and leaving her covered in her own blood in a drunken attack.

The 29-year-old called the woman’s daughter a “fat sl**” before hurling cheesy chips at her and punching her in the face.

She was left with complex facial fractures and unable to speak due to her injuries.

The incident happened after Maddison left The Gate nightclub in Darlington at 3am in the early hours of Sunday September 25, 2022.

Maddison had signed for Darlington FC in June that year but barely featured in the first team before his contract was cancelled on October 13, just days after the attack.

Teesside Crown Court heard on Tuesday that Maddison got in a row with two girls who jumped the queue in a kebab shop before the attack.

Prosecuting, Mr Robin Turton told the court Maddison said, “you come near me and I’m going to pelt these cheesy chips at you” after calling his victim’s daughter a “fat sl**”.

Mr Turton said: “As the defendant threw the chips he fell backwards and he punched the victim with his right clenched fist.”

ATTACK: Marcus Maddison

The woman was found injured in a shop doorway on nearby Duke Street.

At police interview Maddison answered “no comment” to all questions but pleaded guilty to one charge of GBH at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court last month.

He will be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on August 8.

A spokesperson for Darlington FC said: “The club were made aware of an alleged incident and conducted an immediate disciplinary investigation. After discussions with the player concerned the club agreed to mutually terminate his contract with immediate effect at that time.

“Darlington FC is a fan owned club and has a zero tolerance towards discrimination, violence of abusive behaviour.”