Footballers charged with nightclub theft

Two Championship footballers were today charged with burglary after items were allegedly stolen from a nightclub staff room, police said today.

Southampton players Nathan Dyer, 20, and Bradley Wright-Phillips, 23, were charged following an incident at the Bar Bluu club in Southsea, Hants, on 28 February this year.

The pair both attended Portsmouth Central Police Station this morning where they were charged and bailed to appear before the city's magistrates' court on 8 July.

Dyer and Wright-Phillips, who is the son of former England star Ian Wright and younger half-brother of Chelsea and England player Shaun Wright-Phillips, were arrested after staff at the nightclub reported the alleged thefts.

The staff members claimed that during a night when the venue hosted R&B star Kano, three mobile phones, £145 in cash, student cards and cigarettes were allegedly stolen from three handbags.

The investigation by Hampshire police was launched after two men were filmed on CCTV entering the unlocked staff room.

Southampton Football Club declined to comment while the matter against the players, who both live in Briton Street, Southampton, was being investigated by police and the case goes through the courts.