A professional snooker player has been fined after he was caught on CCTV hitting and kicking a woman in the street in a “sustained and deliberate” attack.
Liang Wenbo, who is currently ranked 33rd in the world, was fined a total of £1,380 and given a 12-month community order at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on Friday for a “domestic-related assault”, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
Snooker's governing body responded by saying it had not been aware of the incident, was “extremely disappointed” and was reviewing the disciplinary situation.
A CPS spokeswoman said the alarm was raised in the early hours of July 20 last year by a 999 call from a woman who was screaming in distress.
CCTV from Charles Street, in Sheffield city centre, captured Chinese citizen Wenbo, 35, and the victim having what appeared to be an argument, culminating in Wenbo repeatedly hitting and kicking her.
“Wenbo then dragged the woman to the floor and continued his assault, despite another man trying to intervene to stop him," the spokeswoman said.
“Further footage from another CCTV camera showed Wenbo pushing the woman against a wall and throwing punches towards her.”
Wenbo, of Abingdon, Oxfordshire, pleaded guilty to assault by beating at a previous hearing.
“Wenbo perpetrated a sustained and deliberate assault on the female victim, late at night, leaving her in great distress," Jonathan Wettreich of the prosecution said.
“He has pleaded guilty and been fined £1,380 and given a community order.
“This was an evidence-led prosecution. We will always pursue domestic abuse cases where our legal tests are met.
“This type of behaviour will not be tolerated and the CPS treats such cases with the utmost seriousness.”
Snooker chiefs consider further punishment
Snooker's governing body the WPBSA said: “Wenbo has clearly been charged and found guilty of a serious offence.
“We were not aware of this incident and are very disappointed to read of such matters.
“Whilst we read that Wenbo has already been sentenced for this offence, we will now consider the position from our sport's disciplinary perspective.
“Again, we are extremely disappointed to read this news today.”
World Snooker's website says Wenbo turned professional in 2004 and has won one ranking title — the 2016 English Open. His highest world ranking is 11.
He is scheduled to compete in the qualifying rounds for this year's World Championship in Sheffield next week.
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
