Calum Davenport pleads not guilty to sister’s assault

West Ham defender Calum Davenport appeared in court yesterday accused of headbutting his pregnant sister during a row that ended up with the Premier League star being stabbed in both legs. The 26-year-old footballer pleaded not guilty to the charge of attacking Cara Davenport, 28, in an incident that occurred at the Bedford house of the pair's mother, Kim Stupple, in August 2009.

The case was sent to Crown Court for trial, and the West Ham star was reminded by magistrate Colin Osbourne to abide by the conditions of his bail, which ban him from making contact with his sister. His case has now been adjourned until January 12 when he will return to Bedford Crown Court for committal hearings.

Davenport remains injured from the attack on him, which took place at 5am on the morning of August 22. The former England under-21 international had to undergo emergency surgery having lost more than half of the blood in his body, and initial reports suggested that his legs could have been amputated such was the severity of the injuries. Many felt that his playing career had been ended prematurely, but he has since started light training with the Hammers.

Worrell Whitehurst, Cara's 25-year-old boyfriend, was charged soon after the incident with grevious bodily harm. But police suggested at the time that there was more to the attack than the headlines - 'Footballer stabbed' - were letting on. They vowed to "work backwards" to discover what had actually happened on the morning of August 22, when Whitehurst was also alleged to have assaulted Stupple, 49.

Davenport was subsequently charged by police late last month. The footballer responded with a statement in which he declared himself "deeply shocked and disappointed at the decision that has been made to charge me with assault. I deny any wrongdoing and will plead not guilty. For legal reasons, I am unable to discuss the matter further at this time."

Davenport joined West Ham in 2007 from Spurs for £3m, but was loaned out to Sunderland last season. He remains on the books at Upton Park, although the club is yet to ascertain when he will be able to start training in earnest again. ·