Former youth Reggae Boy Brown admits, denies assault charges

LONDON (CMC):

Former Jamaica youth international Jevani Brown admitted in a southwest English court on Thursday that he assaulted a woman last month but denied a second identical charge against another female on the same date.

The 28-year-old star forward, who plays for League One side Exeter City, appeared before Exeter Magistrates' Court, where he pleaded guilty to assaulting one woman by beating her during an incident last month on Queen Street in the centre of Exeter, the county town of Devon.

After he denied the second identical charge against a second female on the same day, a trial date for July 7 at Exeter Crown Court was set.

Magistrates adjourned the case to the trial date, and Brown was granted unconditional bail until then. The original case against Brown had twice been adjourned.

Brown was Exeter's top scorer with 14 goals but has not featured for the club - nicknamed the Grecians - since his arrest in the early hours of February 2. While he has continued to train with the squad, he has not been considered for selection.

A statement from Exeter City Football Club said: "Jevani Brown appeared at Exeter Magistrates' Court this morning in relation to an incident in February. He pleaded guilty to one charge of assault and not guilty to a second charge of assault.

"A trial date has now been set to hear the case at Exeter Crown Court on July 7. As the legal proceedings remain active, there will be no further comment from Exeter City Football Club."

The UK-born Brown, who joined Exeter from League Two club Colchester United in June 2021, made five appearances for Jamaica Under-17s in 2011.

He was set to make his senior debut for the Reggae Boyz last year after being called up to represent Jamaica at a four-team tournament in Austria but surprised his club by returning to Exeter without playing.

According to Exeter's assistant manager, Wayne Carlisle, the Austria itinerary "wasn't going to match up with what he (Brown) needed and give him game time, so they came to an agreement with the (Jamaican) federation to come back.

He added: "He is enjoying his time at Exeter, and when it didn't join up with what he wanted, he put in the request to come back."