Former Latics star Allan Smart (28) has escaped a jail sentence for his involvement in two incidents of drunken thuggery. Smart was arrested twice in four months after hitting the booze following his transfer from Watford to the Latics. Smart had lashed out in a drunken brawl at the Pennine Way Hotel after a Christmas party and was sentenced to 100 hours community punishment after pleading guilty to affray, damaging property and assault with intent to resist arrest. He was also ordered to pay a £1,500 contribution towards the cost of the property he damaged, £500 compensation and £350 costs. Smart and other Latics players had been drinking at their Christmas bash and Smart decided to share a hotel room as he didn’t have the taxi fare home. After making comments about the condition of a drunken man who was then sick in the reception area, he became increasingly abusive and he grabbed a barman by the throat.Hotel worker Khalid Hussain shouted: “Get out”, but Smart responded verbally and Hussain struck him in the face with a glass object thought to be a bottle or ash tray. Smart walked outside but, realising he was covered in blood, became angry at Hussain’s conduct and tried to get back in. He hit and kicked the doors until they broke open causing £3,049 damage. Hussain was directed to go to his room.
A Latics supporter tried to calm Smart but was headbutted by the player resulting in a nose bleed. Smart then lashed out at a night porter, kicking his legs and punching him in the face. Smart was restrained by staff until police arrived and was treated for a cut to the head and bruising. In another incident Smart had been out for the night with former team mate Paul Murray. The pair ended up in a row with a taxi-driver outside Chadderton police station after the cabbie refused to drive them. A police officer asked Smart to get out of the cab but he became abusive and offensive. Murray assaulted a police inspector in the melee and was fined £300 by magistrates.
