Schade and Janelt named as Brentford duo involved in punch-up with drunk racist | OneFootball

Brentford’s Kevin Schade and Vitaly Janelt have been identified as the players who confronted a drunk man racially abusing a security guard during a late-night incident in Richmond.

Telegraph Sport reported in March that two Brentford players were left bloodied after a two am altercation while travelling back from a 0-0 draw at Leeds, and on Tuesday named Schade and Janelt.

At Wimbledon Magistrates' Court, they defended Israel Ilesanmi, a Nigerian security guard, from David Wheeler, 63, who was left with a black eye. Wheeler, a pharmaceutical van driver, had drunk seven cans of beer. He filmed Ilesanmi and used racist abuse, questioning his right to be there.

When the players intervened, Wheeler used aggressive, racist language towards them too, referencing their German nationality. He originally denied using racist language and did not plead guilty, but changed his plea after an adjournment when told a 999 call had captured his words.

He argued he was acting under duress, a claim rejected in court because duress requires an exceptionally high threshold, such as a threat to life. He told police he had been assaulted and had his phone taken, and said his memory was blurry.

In mitigation he said he mistook the high-vis jacket for police, suspected a lookout for burglars, started filming and was confronted, later accepting he used racist language in the heat of the moment. He was fined a month’s wages and ordered to pay 50 in compensation to Ilesanmi. Alcohol was deemed an aggravating factor, with some remorse acknowledged.

Source: Hounslow Herald

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