Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan sentenced to 40 hours community service for assaulting girlfriend

The 25-year-old was also sentenced to a 12-month community order

Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan has been sentenced to 40 hours of unpaid work and a 12-month community order for assaulting his girlfriend Rachael Wall.

The 25-year-old was sentenced on Wednesday at Liverpool magistrates' court after pleading guilty to the charges of assault earlier this month.

The sentence is in relation to an incident on Duke Street in Liverpool city centre at about 3.20am on 22 December.

The court heard he had been seen on CCTV assaulting his partner on several occasions, including kicking her at one point, who he has been in a relationship with for 18 months.

Lionel Greig, defending, said Wall had not provided a statement and there had been no previous instances of domestic violence in their relationship. He said both parties were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

Judge Wendy Lloyd said: "You are, of course, a young man of previous good character and therefore it's undoubtedly sad that you have brought yourself here by your behaviour."

Liverpool condemned Flanagan for his conviction and said they had not yet decided on whether or not they will take any internal disciplinary action against the player.

“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the player’s actions during the events that took place resulting in this criminal conviction,” Liverpool said in a statement.

“It leaves his own reputation damaged and, through association, he has severely let down the club he had previously represented with distinction.

“We have expressed to him our disappointment and anger that he has failed to live up to the values of Liverpool Football Club, in this specific instance.

“The club has allowed the legal formalities to reach a conclusion before deciding on or implementing any internal disciplinary action. That internal process will now begin. The club has no further comment to make at this time.”