Keane court case. (Keane cleared of all charges)
Footballer 'frightened teenager'
Quote:
Manchester United captain Roy Keane grabbed a frightened teenager around the neck after the youngster swore at him, a court heard on Monday.
Mr Keane also shouted at him and swung a punch at the 16-year-old, his fist stopping just before his face, Trafford Magistrates' Court was told.
He denies a charge of criminal damage after snapping the youngster's chain near his Greater Manchester home.
He also denies assault and a public order offence on 4 September 2004.
'Hand gesture'
The two had clashed after the young student had been riding his moped with a friend near Mr Keane's £1.4m mansion in Hale.
Mr Keane, an Irish international, had been walking his dogs near his home when the boy beeped his horn to acknowledge the star, the court heard.
As the teenager and his friend passed the footballer, Mr Keane swung out with his walking stick.
The teenager drove past and turned round to make a gesture with his hand towards the footballer.
A few weeks later the youngster was on his moped again with a friend visiting a house across the road from Mr Keane's home, the court was told.
Mr Keane was in his garden but came over to approach the pair. The court was shown a video recording of an interview the youngster gave to police after the second incident.
The boy told police he was sat on his bike when he noticed the footballer walking towards him.
"I felt a bit like, 'God, what's going to happen now'", the boy told officers.
He said Mr Keane asked why he had sworn at him.
The teenager said he replied: "Because you nearly hit me; you swung for me with your walking stick.
"He walked up to me and I'm not sure what he said next; he was being a bit aggressive.
"The next thing he did was swing at my face with his right fist. He said, 'that's nearly hitting you'. I flinched backwards."
The trial is expected to last two days.