Coventry striker Marlon King loses sex assault appeal

Marlon King is a registered sex offender

A footballer jailed for sexually assaulting a woman and punching her in the face, breaking her nose, has lost his appeal against the conviction.

Coventry City striker Marlon King, 30, assaulted the woman, then 20, at a bar in Soho, central London, in December 2008 after she rejected his advances.

King received an 18-month sentence at Southwark Crown Court in October 2009.

The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal, with three judges saying the case against King was "strong".

They said: "We have no doubt that this conviction is safe."

During the trial King claimed to have been the victim of mistaken identity.

'I'm a millionaire'

But a jury convicted him with a 10-2 majority verdict.

King, from Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, had to register as a sex offender and pay his victim £3,125 in compensation.

During the trial, jurors heard how King had struck up a conversation with his victim, saying: "Don't you know who I am? I'm a millionaire."

He went on to grope her and smash her to the floor when she continued to reject his advances.

Several witnesses testified that King was responsible, despite his denial.

After he was convicted, the court heard he had a string of previous convictions, including for violence towards women.

King, who has also played for Barnet, Gillingham, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Watford, Hull City and Middlesbrough, was sacked by his then employer Wigan Athletic following his conviction.

King left prison in July and was offered a contract by Championship side Coventry City two months later.