Men cleared over Jack Wilshere 'fight'

Two men allegedly caught up in a fight involving footballer Jack Wilshere were cleared of affray today.

A jury reached its decision on Bradley Martin, 23, and Elliot Fowler, 24, after one-and-a-half hours of deliberations at Isleworth Crown Court, west London.

Arsenal star Wilshere was given a caution for common assault for his involvement in the incident.

The men, from Farnham, Surrey, declined to comment after the jury reached its unanimous verdict.

The court heard that Wilshere was part of a group which hurled homophobic insults at revellers before the fight began outside a nightclub.

Kimberley Plested, who fell and broke her arm during the scuffle, was celebrating her 21st birthday at west London club Amika and her friends had dressed in pink as part of the celebration.

Wilshere's friends Adam Mardell and Duane Brailsford had earlier admitted affray.

Martin and Fowler are friends of Miss Plested.

The court heard that Wilshere was in a group, one of whose members asked: "Is it the poof brigade?" and made comments about the revellers wearing pink.

CCTV footage showed Wilshere grabbing Miss Plested's friend Ben Tritton by the lapels of his jacket.

Wilshere and his friends were out celebrating after Arsenal beat Blackburn in a Premier League match.

Wilshere did not attend the trial.