Guilty — Isle of Wight boxer admits string of assaults against women

Lance Corporal John Noble Marvin, 27, of St Andrews Street, Cowes, changed his plea to guilty on the morning of his trial at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court today (Thursday).

He admitted two assaults by beating of his former girlfriend Georgia Haywood, and assault by beating her friends Francesca Ayling and Emma Gustar in September.

He also admitted causing criminal damage to Miss Haywood's door.

• Read more: Punched to the ground — court hears from boxer John Marvin's victims

He also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm of a further victim an earlier date — Abigail Bright, on August 1.

John Marvin outside court.

Marvin is an English-Filipino amateur light heavyweight boxer who has boxed for the army, and represented the Philippines in boxing internationally.

A Lance Corporal, he has been in the army for eight years.

He will be sentenced, following probation reports, on January 11, at the same court. All options are available, including custody.

Liz Miller prosecuting, said Miss Haywood was Marvin's girlfriend at the time of the attack.

She had gone to the Duke of York pub in Cowes with friends, leaving behind a 'moody and aggressive' Marvin.

She felt bad about leaving him, so went back to his home address. He pushed her to the floor, trapping her leg in the door, which he then repeatedly shut on her leg, causing bruising.

She went home, with her friends, but Marvin later turned up and attacked all three of them in the street.

He hit Miss Haywood and Miss Gustar, knocking them out, and punched Miss Ayling to the head, and then knocked a panel out of Miss Haywood's front door.

He ran off laughing, before being arrested shortly afterwards.

Miss Haywood suffered several injuries to her legs, and her front tooth was left broken.

Miss Ayling received bruising to her arm, and Miss Gustar was left with 'lumps and bumps' on her head.

The court was shown photos of the injuries, and victim impact statements were read out.

The court also saw a video of the attack on Miss Bright, which took place a month before the attacks on the three women.

She was out with friends when she got into a minor altercation with Miss Haywood. Marvin, who was very drunk, walked over, grabbed Miss Bright by her hair, and threw her to the ground in front of a crowd of people, in St James's Street, Newport.

He rendered her unconscious and she needed stitches for facial injuries.

Miss Miller said Miss Bright had been walking away when he grabbed her.

Marvin has previous for common assault in 2014.

Oscar Vincent, for Marvin, said Marvin's father had died just two weeks before the August attack on Miss Bright and he hadn't come to terms with it. He described his father as his best friend, and Mr Vincent said Marvin had grief issues he had kept bottled up.

He said he was unable to show his vulnerability to his colleagues in the army, and waa 'horrified and deeply ashamed at the detail of the assaults and on seeing the video'.

Mr Vincent said Marvin has taken steps to address his behaviour, including recognising alcohol is a factor and minimising social activities.

He said he had an exemplary report from his commanding officer in the army, and was described as a consummate professional, dedicated in his goal of getting to the Olympics for his boxing.

He had been in the army boxing team since 2014 and was at one time ranked as 11th in the world in his sport.

He was granted bail on condition he doesn't contact the victims, go down St Mary's Road in Cowes, or comment on the case on social media.