Former rugby league star Sean Long accused of attacking disabled woman in ...

A disabled mother yesterday broke down in tears and told a court how former Great Britain rugby league star Sean Long throttled her unconscious in a row over money.

The ex-Man of Steel is accused of attacking Pamela Twist, 41, in her home as he tried to recover cash from her now-estranged husband, St Helens Magistrates Court heard.

Weeping in the witness box, Ms Twist described how Long screamed at her: “You stupid cripple. You stupid b*tch, you can’t do anything.”

The mother also explained how rugby superstar Long was convinced her former husband Paul had cash stashed in ‘safes’ and demanded access to them during the violent bust up in Rainford, Merseyside.

Ms Twist: “He put his hands round my neck. He was pressing two points on my throat. I began to black out.

“I remember my children, aged between four and 10, were banging on the conservatory window going ‘mum, mum, mum, mum!’

“I was terrified. It made me feel worthless. I could see the lights in front of my eyes.”

Ms Twist alleged an ‘over 6ft domineering’ accomplice was with Long who told her, while the former scrum-half was outside: “I can make people disappear.”

But Long, 37, denies the attack on May 17 last year ever took place.

His barrister Sean Joyce described the account as ‘fictitious’ and accused mother-of-five Ms Twist of fabricating the tale because she owed the now-retired rugby star thousands in rent money and left the plush detached home in Wigan trashed after moving out.

Giving evidence, Long told the court he was in a gym at the time of the alleged assault and could not strangle anyone as he had broken his finger.

He added: “I’m absolutely devastated someone has come out and saying I’m a woman beater.

“I don’t do that. I play rugby league. I’m a good servant to my club and I’m a dad.

“For someone to say that is pathetic and it gives me a clear name.”

But prosecutor Andrew Hodgson challenged Long: “In 1996 you assaulted a female and fractured her cheek.

“And in January, 2012, you received a caution for an offence of battery.

“You have used violence and you are prepared to use violence and on May 17 you took matters into your own hands and you assaulted Pamela Twist, didn’t you?”

“No,” replied Long.

Mr Joyce told the court Ms Twist had used the name of Claire Long, the rugby star’s ex-wife, to apply and buy still unpaid children’s presents and women’s clothing for Christmas from the online catalogue company Very.

Mr Joyce said: “Very systematically, you set about defrauding a catalogue company, not content with two refusals, you tried a third time with a different date of birth and a fourth time in the name of Claire Long cynically to obtain personal items for Christmas.”

He told Ms Twist: “It’s payback, isn’t it?”

Long, 37, famed in his playing days for his instantly-recognisable blond dreadlocks and the winner of three prestigious Lance Todd Trophies, denies a charge of common assault.

Article source: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/latest/rugby-accies-derby-distress-against-heriot-s-1-3117604

Former rugby league star Sean Long accused of attacking disabled woman in ...