Crystal Palace defender Ryan Inniss jailed for assault in bar

A professional footballer with Premier League club Crystal Palace has been jailed for 14 weeks after pleading guilty to assault by beating.

Ryan Inniss, 21, was sentenced at Bexley Magistrates' Court in relation to an incident at a bar in May.

The defender, who is currently on a season-long loan at Southend United, will appeal his sentence at Croydon Crown Court on Monday.

Inniss made the deadline day move to Southend on September 1 but is unavailable for selection for the League One team's game at Scunthorpe on Saturday as he remains in prison custody.

The footballer pleased guilty in August before being sentenced on Wednesday, whereupon he began his sentence.

Inniss, who represented England at U16 and U17 level, has played for a number of lower league clubs while trying to break into Palace's first team squad, including Gillingham and Port Vale.

A spokesperson for Palace said: “Crystal Palace Football Club are aware of the Ryan Inniss court case and sentence which is subject to appeal. Therefore, at this time the club cannot comment further on the matter, for legal reasons."