A footballer at crisis hit Newcastle United was arrested by police following a late night assault on a woman, it has emerged.
Striker Andy Carroll, 19, accepted a caution following the incident last weekend in Pudding Chare, a narrow street near the city's infamous Bigg Market bars.
The 6ft 3ins Gateshead-born player was taken from the scene by officers at 2.30am last Sunday for questioning.
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "On Sunday, September 14, police were called to the Pudding Chare at 2.26am, to a report that a woman had been assaulted.
"Officers attended and a 19-year-old man was arrested and later accepted a police caution for assault."
Carroll, an England under-19 footballer, has been tipped as a star of the future. He has yet to score in a competitive fixture for Newcastle, but is sought after by other clubs.
His arrest is yet more bad publicity for the club which was plunged into crisis by the loss of manager Kevin Keegan and the subsequent fans' revolt against owner Mike Ashley, who has since put it up for sale.
