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Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan is due to be sentenced today after admitting assaulting his girlfriend.

The 25-year-old was arrested in the early hours of December 22 on Duke Street in Liverpool city centre and is due to be sentenced at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.

At an earlier hearing, the court heard how the violence involved a “kick” and took place when both Flanagan and his girlfriend Rachael Wall were drunk on a pre-Christmas night out.

Referring to CCTV footage of the incident, Judge Lloyd said she accepted Flanagan is of ‘previous good character’, but said his girlfriend was assaulted on ‘several occasions’.

She said: “The defendant is a professional footballer and trains hard every day, and therefore doesn’t go out.

“You don’t hear of him in court for all the wrong reasons, this was an isolated incident over the Christmas period.”

She added: “This a prolonged attack according to the report of the CCTV, and it involves a kick. To me it is a category 2 offence and I think I am going to need a report.

“It is not that simple in domestic violence, they are in a relationship and presumable in love, yet this young lady has been shown a significant degree of violence.”

I have been given a detailed breakdown of that CCTV footage which shows that you assaulted this young lady not just once but on several occasions during that few minutes in the early hours, once involving your foot.

“Though this lady has several injuries, she claims that you have not seen them.”

Academy graduate Flanagan broke through to Liverpool’s first team in the 2010/11 season.

The defender, who earned an England call-up in 2014, played a part in the Reds’ 2013/14 title challenge but has been plagued by injuries in recent years.

He made 10 appearances for Burnley during his loan spell at Turf Moor last season and this summer spoke of his determination to feature in Jurgen Klopp ’s plans this year.

Speaking ahead of the earlier trial, a Liverpool FC spokesman said: “The club has been made aware of an alleged incident involving a member of the first team playing squad. We will be making no further comment on the matter while the process is ongoing with the relevant authorities.”

According to court documents Flanagan assaulted victim Rachael Wall by beating, an offence which carries a maximum of six months in jail.