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Billy Vunipola tasered and fined after conviction for resisting Spanish police

Billy Vunipola has been linked with a move to France this summer
Billy Vunipola has been linked with a move to France this summer

England forward Billy Vunipola has "unreservedly" apologised after being convicted of assaulting a police officer while resisting arrest on the Spanish island of Majorca, during an incident in which he was tasered.

Vunipola was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and fined €240 for assault and battery after being arrested by police in Palma following an incident at a pub.

Palma's Examining Court also ordered him to pay €500 to a police officer who was injured during the incident following a trial on Sunday.

Under Spanish law, a prison sentence of less than two years does not usually lead to serving any time behind bars unless there are previous criminal records.

The 31-year-old claimed there was "no violence" during the incident in the early hours of Sunday morning and he is scheduled to fly back to the UK on Monday.

In a statement issued through his club Saracens, Vunipola described the incident as an "unfortunate misunderstanding" which "got out of hand".

In his statement, Vunipola said: "I can confirm I was involved in an unfortunate misunderstanding when I was leaving a club in Majorca on Sunday, which got out of hand.

"Contrary to media reports, there was no violence, no fight and I did not threaten anybody at any stage, with bottles or chairs or anything else.

"I was charged with resisting the law and, following an 'express trial', I have paid a fine of €240. The Spanish police investigation is now closed, and I am flying back to the UK today.

"I will obviously cooperate with the Saracens internal process and unreservedly apologise for any inconvenience to all involved."

A spokesperson for the National Police in Majorca said: "In the early hours of yesterday morning, at 4.30am, the National Police proceeded to the arrest of a 31-year-old foreign man, for a crime of disobedience and attacking a police officer.

"The police officers tried at all times to get him to calm down, but the man would not listen to reason. At that moment, the man pushed and slapped an officer and a policeman pulled out his electric stun gun and fired, hitting a projectile in the wallet, which did not discharge.

"A second projectile was then fired, which did the job, and it was then that the officers jumped on him and proceeded to immobilise him by shackling him, later taking him to Son Espases hospital for assessment and arrest."

Vunipola is expected to leave Saracens at the end of this season and has previously been linked with a move to France – although nothing has been confirmed.

He has won 75 England caps, making his Test debut against Argentina in 2013. He was not selected in the England squad for this year's Six Nations.

His brother Mako also played for England until his retirement in January, while his father played for Tonga.

Billy Vunipola made an appearance as a second-half substitute for Saracens in their 15-12 victory over Bath on Friday night.

The club are not scheduled to play again until 11 May.

Saracens sit second in the Premiership and are chasing a sixth league title in last 10 seasons with just two rounds of regular season games left before the play-offs.

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Additional reporting: Reuters

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