Bramble on sex assault charge

Sunderland defender Titus Bramble has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, and one of urinating in public.

Bramble, 30, a former England Under-21 international, was arrested last month and then again earlier in October when a second sex allegation was made.

However, an allegation of drug possession has been dropped, a spokeswoman for Cleveland Police confirmed. Bramble is due to appear at Teesside magistrates' court on 10 November; his lawyer, Phil Smith, said his client denied the charges. The centre-back was suspended by Sunderland pending a club investigation into the issue in September.