England footballer Stewart Downing arrested after claim he punched his ex-girlfriend during row in nightclub



Arrested: Liverpool winger Stewart Downing has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting his ex-partner

Footballer Stewart Downing has been arrested on suspicion of assault after allegedly hitting an ex-girlfriend in a nightclub row.

The Liverpool winger and England international, 27, was arrested after a late night fracas at a pub in the upmarket suburb of Yarm, near Middlesbrough, at about 1am this morning.

It is claimed that he assaulted his ex-partner, with whom he is thought to have a child, after rowing with her while drinking at the Cross Keys club on Yarm High Street.

A local source told Mail Online that there had been an incident between the two of them.



'She went over to one of his friends and said something that she shouldn't have,' the source said.

'He butted in and they were arguing.'

It is then that he is alleged to have hit her.



The source continued: 'Police got there as they were thrown out. He caused a scene outside the club as well, when he realised they were going to take him in.'

While relatively upmarket, Yarm is notorious as a hangout for 'scrotes' - a slang term for undesirables - who go there for nights out, our source said. It is also a well known hangout for footballers.



Downing, who comes from nearby Middlesborough, is thought to have been back in town visiting old friends.

After coming up through the Middlesborough Academy, he played for the side for Middlesborough for first eight years of his career, before moving to Aston Villa.

Stewart Downing is from Middlesborough, but signed for Liverpool last year

Downing signed for Liverpool last year. His arrest is the latest embarrassment for the club, which in recent weeks has also been rocked by two racism scandals.

Referring to last night's incident, a police spokesman said: 'Police were called to an incident at a pub on Yarm High Street.

'A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and a 32-year-old woman has also been arrested on suspicion of assault.