Former England cricketer Geoff Boycott last night claimed his ex-lover had told "lies" in a French court, alleging he had brutally assaulted her. He has begun an appeal against his three-month suspended sentence and fine of 50,000 francs (£4,500) for punching Ms Margaret Moore 20 times in the face and body.
He denied her allegations, describing her as a bitter and vindictive woman. He also said he will take legal action against her if she continues to "make untrue and defamatory" allegations. The cricketer turned BBC commentator was not in court in Grasse, southern France, to hear her give evidence. Instead he sent a fax to the court explaining that he was at a cricket tournament in South Africa.
Judge Marc Juando criticised him for failing to appear and said: "How can we interrupt such a noble activity as cricket?"
However, Boycott's solicitor said his client was staying at an undisclosed address in the UK and was not on a cricket tour. The letter faxed to the court was an old one prepared when it was thought he would have been on tour when the hearing was taking place. Ms Moore (45) told the court that Boycott pinned her down before launching his brutal assault. She said they were staying at the Hotel Cap in Antibes when he attacked her on October 2nd, 1996. She said she had acted as an agent for Boycott and arranged contracts with the BBC and with national newspapers. On the day in question he was in "very bad mood" and had told her off for not making enough money for him, she said.
The judge was shown photographs of the damage to her face, showing two black eyes and severe bruising.