Bowyer Pays Up

It seems a strange way to act when you were found 'not guilty' of any charge, but Lee Bowyer has agreed an out-of-court settlement with an Asian student he was cleared of assaulting.

The England international has had a long-running legal battle with student Sarfraz Najeib. OK, I know what you're going to say ... 'get a job!' Bowyer's solicitors Barker Gillette confirmed a cash settlement had also been agreed with Mr Najeib's brother Shahzad.

He was found not guilty of both grievous bodily harm and affray, although ex-Toon defender Jonathan Woodgate was acquitted of causing GBH but convicted of affray.

In a statement, Bowyer's law firm said: 'We confirm that Lee Bowyer has agreed to pay a sum of money to Mr Sarfraz and Mr Shahzad Najeib in full and final settlement of all claims made by them and arising out of the incident in Leeds city centre as long ago as January 2000.

'This payment is made without any admission of liability by Lee, who has maintained consistently throughout two criminal trials and still maintains that he had no part in the infliction of any injuries sustained by Mr Sarfraz and Mr Shahzad Najeib.'