Boxing champion Billy Joe Saunders charged over 'crack for sex act' video
WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders has apologised to "everybody who took offence" but his next title defence could be in jeopardy.
Tuesday 18 September 2018 16:22, UK
Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders has been charged with misconduct by the British Boxing Board of Control after he was filmed apparently offering a woman crack cocaine in what police have described as a "sickening" video.
The footage shows the 29-year-old pulled over in a Rolls-Royce, offering the woman "£150 worth" of "crack" to perform a sex act on his friend.
Saunders, who holds the WBO belt, then spots a man walking along the street towards his vehicle and tells the woman: "He's a paedophile - punch him."
The woman slaps the man across the face, after which Saunders tells her "he's not a paedophile" before driving off.
After the video emerged, Saunders tweeted: "Apologise to everybody who's took offence totally in the wrong ' can't do anything But be sorry ' banter when wrong ' Apologies once again."
There is no evidence he was actually in possession of any drugs.
Nottinghamshire Police called the video "sickening" and said it had started investigating a "number of offences".
"A woman is offered drugs in exchange for committing an act of violence, and potentially committing a sex act in public," said a spokesperson.
"Officers will be looking to identify and speak to all of those who feature in this sickening video, and a full investigation will be carried out into the number of offences that have been captured on film, including the offer to supply class A drugs, aiding and abetting an assault, assault and public order offences."
The British Boxing Board of Control said it had called Saunders to appear in front of stewards of the board next week.
He could face a fine, suspension or have his licence taken away - potentially jeopardising next month's title defence against Demetrius Andrade in Boston.