West Ham's James Tomkins charged with police assault
A Premier League footballer has been charged with assaulting a police officer over an incident at an Essex night club popular with celebrities.
West Ham player James Tomkins, 24, was refused entry at the Sugar Hut Village in Brentwood early on Sunday and security staff called police.
Mr Tomkins was taken into custody and charged with assault, resisting arrest and being drunk and disorderly.
He will appear at Basildon Magistrates' Court on 9 January, police said.
Earlier in the day he had played against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
A police spokesman said: "Officers were called by security staff from the Sugar Hut Village shortly before 00:30 GMT on Sunday following reports of a disturbance."
He added that Mr Tomkins, from Brentwood, was later charged with one count of assaulting a police officer, one count of resisting arrest and one count of being drunk and disorderly in a public place.
The defender was released on police bail until his court appearance.