Billy Vunipola ‘does not bear in mind being Tasered’ and cried to spouse after arrest
Billy Vunipola does not remember being Tasered twice by police before his arrest in Majorca.
The England rugby international, 31, was arrested on the Spanish island on Sunday evening after police were called to a bar called Epic. Initial reports alleged the No.8 had taken off his shirt and threatened both customers and employees with bottles and chairs after being asked to leave the bar, something he strongly denies.
Police eventually managed to overpower the 6ft 2in giant and handcuffed him after two attempts at Tasering him – the first being ineffective due to his “belly” – before the second finally downed him. And Vunipola revealed he could not remember being Tasered due to the alcohol he had knocked back while on the Saracens social trip.
READ MORE: Billy Vunipola releases statement with police investigation ‘closed’ after Spain arrest
READ MORE: England rugby star Billy Vunipola Tasered twice by police during arrest for ‘violent incident’
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Vunipola told the Mail: “I don’t remember that [being asked to leave the bar] and I don’t remember getting Tasered. I think I was going to walk out towards the door and as I walked towards the door, something hit me from the back.”
He added: “’I just remember a snippet of ‘Oohh’ (pain). Next thing I knew, my head is on the ground and that was it.”
Several police officers then leapt on his back and tried to bind his hands, which he fought against and accidentally harmed an officer. Vunipola was sedated for trying to resist arrest and woke up in hospital, where he felt as if he had just woken up from a horrible dream.
(Image: Getty Images)
The Saracens star, who was born in Australia to Tongan parents and moved to the UK with his family as a young child, was taken to a holding cell where he met his lawyer and later called his wife, Simmone, in tears.
He explained: “I called my wife and had to explain to her what had happened. I remember saying, ‘I’m so sorry’ and I started crying.
(Image: J.BASTIDA/SOLARPIX.COM)
“I said, ‘This is the last thing you want to hear but I’m OK and they’re going to hold me until four (o’clock) when I will try to clear myself.’”
Vunipola ended up in court, where he was fined 240 Euros and handed a suspended four-month prison sentence for resisting arrest. He admitted feeling a deep sense of remorse and regret, having been left embarrassed and upset by the incident.
