Footballer Claus Lundekvam fined £500 over assault

Claus Lundekvam played for Southampton for 12 years

Former Premiership footballer Claus Lundekvam has been fined £500 after admitting assaulting a business partner during a drunken incident at his home.

The former Southampton player was arrested by police at his home in Chilworth, Hampshire, on 16 April.

Lundekvam, 37, pleaded guilty to common assault on Karen Rogers at Southampton Magistrates' Court.

District judge Lorraine Morgan also ordered him to pay £100 in costs and a victims' fund surcharge.

Carl Anderson, prosecuting, told the court that Lundekvam argued with Ms Rogers in the lounge of his home when she used his mobile phone and he accused her of deleting numbers.

Civil case

The court heard he grabbed her by the arms and pulled her off a sofa and then later grabbed her again and pushed her towards a door, causing her to fall. Someone else then intervened.

Lundekvam was in a business arrangement with Ms Rogers over a photographic studio set up in 2009.

The court heard she visited his house to ask for money for the rent of the premises.

Lundekvam's solicitor Cliff Morris said the business arrangement was now subject to civil court proceedings.

Mr Morris said the assault was "unnecessary" but the victim had received only minor bruising to her arm.

The Norwegian, who has 40 international caps, retired in 2008 due to injury after 12 years and 357 appearances for Southampton.