A PROFESSIONAL footballer and his father are facing possible jail sentences after they each admitted an actual bodily harm assault.

Bolton Wanderers player Kyle Dempsey, 27, who once played for Carlisle United, previously denied assaulting a man in Maryport on Saturday, July 16 last year. His father Michael Dempsey, 50, also denied an identical charge.

At Carlisle Crown Court today, both men admitted the allegation.

The court was told that the defendants have entered their guilty pleas on a factual basis which has yet to be agreed by the prosecutor.

Dempsey senior, of Whitecroft, Maryport, also admitted an allegation of causing criminal damage to a door at Maryport Labour Club, where the incident occurred on the same date.

In court today, lawyers for both the prosecution and the defence discussed the next stage of the case, which will involve a decision about whether the proposed “basis of plea” for each defendant is accepted.

If the prosecution reject that version of events there can be a fact-finding hearing, which can hear evidence. Both defendants are said to claim that they acted in self-defence but that their actions were a "a little bit excessive."

A judge will then determine the sentence on the basis of what is accepted as the factual background to the offence.

Addressing both defendants, Judge Richard Archer told them that background reports will now be prepared by the Probation Service. “All sentencing options will remain open to the court, up to and including a custodial sentence,” said the judge. Kyle Dempsey lives in Blackpool.

The defendants were both represented by defence barrister Lisa Judge.