Former Leeds United striker Malik Wilks pleads guilty to affray over incident in which man was stabbed at Leeds West Indian Carnival - but will not be going to jail

Former Leeds United striker Mallik Wilks has pleaded guilty to affray over a disturbance in which a man was stabbed at Leeds West Indian Carnival.
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Wilks also pleaded guilty to an offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over the incident which took place in August 2017.

Wilks, now a player with Hull City, will be sentenced for the offences at the end of the football season but was told by a judge that he will NOT be sending him to jail.

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The 21-year-old was facing a trial in June next year for violent disorder but the Crown Prosecution Service accepted a guilty plea to the lesser charge of affray.

Former Leeds United striker Wilks will not be going to prison over the disturbance at Leeds West Indian Carnival.Former Leeds United striker Wilks will not be going to prison over the disturbance at Leeds West Indian Carnival.
Former Leeds United striker Wilks will not be going to prison over the disturbance at Leeds West Indian Carnival.

Father-of-two Wilks entered guilty pleas at Leeds Crown Court today after a hearing in which Judge Mustaq Khokhar was invited to indicate the likely sentence that would be imposed for the offences.

Wilks' barrister, James Lake, told the court that his client had made positive changes to his life since the incident.

Mr Lake said Wilks now had a partner and two children and is a devoted family man.

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The barrister said Wilks signed a three-year contract with Hull City only last week but he would be sacked if he was sent to custody.

Mallik Wilks outside Leeds Magistrates Court in October 2018Mallik Wilks outside Leeds Magistrates Court in October 2018
Mallik Wilks outside Leeds Magistrates Court in October 2018

Mr Lake said the incident happened when Wilks was just 18 years old and was struggling to come to death with the murder of hisbrother Raheem Wilks.Raheem was shot and killed in a targeted shooting at a barber's shop in January 2017.

The court heard Wilks now sees himself as a role model for youngsters in the area of Leeds where he grew up and does volunteer work at Chapeltown Youth Development Centre.

Prosecutor David Gordon confirmed that the guilty pleas were acceptable to the Crown.

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The judge said: "It seems to me that nothing would be achieved as far as society is concerned by sending this man to custody.

Mallik Wilks pleaded guilty to affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm over incident at Leeds West Indian Carnival in 2017Mallik Wilks pleaded guilty to affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm over incident at Leeds West Indian Carnival in 2017
Mallik Wilks pleaded guilty to affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm over incident at Leeds West Indian Carnival in 2017

"Firstly, he would lose his contract of employment.

"Secondly, it would bring hardship on his partner and children and all the work he has done over the last three years in order to rehabilitate himself would come to nothing."

The court heard Wilks was among a group of around eight people involved in a disturbance at the carnival on August 28, 2017

One man suffered a stab injury to his chest.

Mallik Wilks outside Leeds Crown Court for a previous hearing.Mallik Wilks outside Leeds Crown Court for a previous hearing.
Mallik Wilks outside Leeds Crown Court for a previous hearing.

He required surgery to have fluid removed from his chest after the incident.

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Mr Lake said there was no evidence to indicate that Wilks was armed with a knife or was responsible for inflicting the injuries.

The barrister said the disturbance was not linked to his brother's murder.

Judge Khokhar described the offences to which Wilks had pleaded guilty as "very serious."

He said: "If this case had come before me nearer to the time (of the incident), circumstances would be different."

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Mr Lake asked for the case to be adjourned for sentencing until July 27 so Wilks could concentrate on his last four games of the season for Hull City.

The barrister said Wilks also had an appointment with Hull City's doctor.

He added that the club is currently in a relegation battle near the bottom of the EFL Championship.

Wilks sat in the dock of the courtroom during the hearing and spoke only to enter the guilty pleas.

He was granted unconditional bail.

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He will be sentenced on July 27 after the facts of the case have been outlined in court.

Wilks made his debut for Leeds United against Sutton United in the FA Cup on January 27, 2017.

Wilks had loan spells at Doncaster Rovers, Accrington Stanley and Grimsby Town during his time with the Elland Road Club.

He then joined Barnsley before moving to Hull City on a loan deal in February this year.

Last week it was announced Wilks had signed a permanent deal with Hull.