Wilshere part of homophobic group

England midfielder Jack Wilshere was a member of a group which made homophobic insults before a fight began outside a nightclub, a court was told Wednesday.

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

   Wilshere was cautioned for common assault for his part in the incident and his friends, Adam Mardell and Duane Brailsford, admitted affray.

   Miss Plested’s friends, Bradley Martin, 23, and Elliot Fowler, 24, both from Farnham, Surrey, south of London, deny affray and are  currently on trial.

   Prosecutor Warwick Tatford read a statement from Chris Osbourne,  a business developer who was out with Miss Plested on her birthday in August.

   “I think there was 15 of us in total,” Osbourne said in his statement.

   “The party had a pink theme to it and therefore everyone was wearing something pink.

   “I walked out of the club with my friend Ben, and Kim was sat on  some steps outside a building I know has a media company inside it.

   “I had been there for five or 10 minutes when I saw three or four lads.

   “I heard one of them say ’Is it sloppy seconds then boys?’ 

  “I cannot recall who said this, Ben and I just shrugged it off.

   “Then one of the lads said the words ’Is it the poof brigade?’ and made comments about us wearing pink.

   “I suddenly became aware it had erupted as I saw one of the males grab Ben by the lapels of his jacket and was invading his personal space.” 

  He referred to the men who made the taunt as the “Wilshere group”, as it included the Arsenal footballer and his friends Mardell and Brailsford.

   The three were out celebrating after Arsenal beat Blackburn Rovers in a Premier League match.

   The case continues. Wilshere is not expected to appear as a witness during the trial.