Coach faces court 'Olympic' probe

Mr Bromby's "Olympic hopeful" claim is being disputed by boxing officials

A boxing coach who pleaded with a judge not to jail an "Olympic hopeful" is being investigated over alleged perjury at the fighter's trial, it has emerged.

Fighter Samir Mouneimne, 20, was convicted of fracturing a man's jaw and taking part in an assault, but was spared a jail term.

Coach Michael Bromby told the Hull Crown Court judge Mouneimne might make it to the Beijing Olympics this year.

Now boxing officials have contacted Humberside Police to dispute the claim.

Mouneimne was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after breaking the jaw of a barman on 15 June in 2007.

He admitted taking part in a violent attack two days later with three friends, in which he kicked a man 10 times, punched him and stamped on him.

Mouneimne, of Spring Grove, west Hull, was given a 12-month sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to carry out 250 hours of community service.

This is very much an ongoing investigation Humberside Police

Mr Bromby, an advanced coach in the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA), spoke on oath at the sentencing telling the judge that if the boxer was not jailed, he might make it to the Olympic Games in China.

But officials from the ABA contacted Humberside Police alleging that the judge had been misled about Mouneimne's Olympic prospects.

Humberside Police said they were investigating an allegation of perjury.

"This is very much an ongoing investigation and no arrests have been made as part of this investigation," a force spokesman said.

Barry Jones of the ABA said Mouneimne had been suspended for five years from all activities in amateur boxing following his conviction and confirmed the organisation had provided evidence to detectives regarding the perjury allegation.

The court had been shown CCTV footage of the violence committed by Mouneimne and his friends, Liam Casey, 20, of Bricknell Avenue, west Hull; Mark O'Connor, 19, of Grangeside Avenue, west Hull; and Daniel Fairburn, 19, of Hackforth Walk, west Hull.

The other three were given nine-month prison sentences suspended for two years, ordered to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work in the community and given curfews for five months.