Former Watford striker Marlon King has been jailed for 18 months for punching a petite woman in the face and breaking her nose when she spurned his unwelcome advances.

After his arrest, King who was out celebrating his wife’s pregnancy and scoring a winning goal that day, claimed it was a case of mistaken identity.

Southwark Crown Court heard how King was repeatedly turned down by a number of women in London’s Soho Review Bar last December before he lost his temper with the 20-year-old university student.

The 29-year-old £5m Wigan Athletic player from Waltham Cross admitted being at the venue but denied sexually assaulting the woman or punching her.

However, the jury unanimously convicted King of sexual assault and actual bodily harm (ABH).

Following the conviction, Wigan chairman Dave Whelan confirmed the striker will be sacked by the Premiership club.