A FOOTBALLER has appeared in court alongside his father charged with assault.

Kyle Dempsey, 27, of Magnolia Way, Blackpool, has denied a charge of assaulting a person, occasioning them actual bodily harm.

Dempsey, a former Carlisle United star who now plays for Bolton Wanderers, appeared in the dock alongside his father, Michael Dempsey, 50, of Whitecroft, Maryport.

Both defendants entered not guilty pleas to charges of assaulting a person, occasioning them actual bodily harm.

It is alleged that the defendants assaulted a man in Maryport on July 16.

Mr Dempsey Snr also faces a charge of criminal damage to property under £5,000, on the same date.  

The defendants will appear at Carlisle Crown Court on February 6. They were granted unconditional bail.