Guscott for trial on GBH charge

THE ENGLAND rugby player Jeremy Guscott was sent for trial yesterday over an alleged road-rage incident.

Bath magistrates committed Mr Guscott, 33, the Bath, England and British Lions centre, to stand trial at Bristol Crown Court on 9 July. During a three-minute appearance, Mr Guscott, from Combe Park, Bath, spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Sally Bennett-Jenkins, a defence barrister appeared for Mr Guscott, who was wearing a dark suit and a red and gold spotted tie. She agreed with the Rose Monno, for the prosecution, that the case papers were ready for the formal committal. Magistrates ordered that the rugby player's conditional bail should continue.

Mr Guscott, who is also a television presenter and a male model, is accused of assaulting Kenneth Jones, of Oldfield Park, Bath, and causing him grievous bodily harm in an incident in Broad Street, Bath, on 29 April. Reporting restrictions were not lifted.

The court directed that nothing should be published that might identify two children who were listed as being among 12 witnesses for the trial.

Mr Guscott scored a vital try for the Lions to win in Australia in 1989 and kicked an equally important drop-goal in South Africa in 1997.