Billy Joe Saunders apologises and claims video of him taunting ‘drug addict’ by offering her £150 of crack for a sex act was ‘banter’
The World Champion British boxer Billy Joe Saunders mocked a woman apparently begging for crack by asking her to perform a sex act on a passenger in his car, before bribing her into punching an innocent bystander with the promise of £150 worth of crack
WORLD champ boxer Billy Joe Saunders has apologised for "taunting a drug addict" by apparently asking her to perform a sex act in exchange for £150 of crack - but claimed it was "banter".
In the shocking footage the British undefeated middleweight champion also told the woman to slap a passerby and call him a "paedo" if she wanted the drugs.
The 29-year-old apologised this morning, tweeting: "Apologise to everybody who’s took offence totally in the wrong ‘ can’t do anything But be sorry ‘ banter when wrong ‘ Apologies once again."
A member of his team claimed the video was “a fake-news prank” designed to “drum up publicity” for his forthcoming fight.
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In the footage, Saunders pulled over in his £250,000 Rolls-Royce to speak to the woman in Nottinghamshire before goading her.
A source told The Sun Online: “He pulled over deliberately to taunt this woman after spotting her and thinking it would be a laugh."
After engaging the woman in conversation, the boxer said: “Listen, let me tell you one thing: you are not going to tell anyone if I give you this crack.
“Swear on your granddad's grave.”
The woman, who appears to be suffering from an addiction issue, complies and pleads for the alleged drugs to be handed over.
In the video, he adds: “Tell me the truth. How much do you need it.”
She responds: “Quite a lot.”
He then tells her: “If you want it, I’ll give it to you. I’ll give you £150 worth.”
The sickening video is believed to be filmed from inside the boxer's Rolls-Royce.
He then asks the lady to perform a sex act on his front seat passenger and after haggling he asks her instead to punch an innocent man walking along the street and call him a paedophile.
He says: "I know him, he's a paedophile, punch him in the face and I'm going to give you £150-worth.
"Punch him in the face, go on I'm going to give it to you right now, punch him he's a paedophile, punch him."
She then slaps the innocent bystander and shouts “paedophile” at him.
Saunders then tells her he is not a sex-offender and pulls off laughing as she apologises to the man.
Nottinghamshire Police said they were aware of the "sickening" clip and were now investigating.
A force spokesman said: "[We are] aware of a video circulating, where a woman is offered drugs in exchange for committing an act of violence, and potentially committing a sex act in public.
"Officers will be looking to identify and speak to all of those who feature in this sickening video, and a full investigation will be carried out into the number of offences that have been captured on film, including the offer to supply Class A drugs, aiding and abetting an assault, assault and public order offences.
"Incidents of this nature will not be tolerated in Nottinghamshire, and we would urge anyone who witnessed this incident, or who has any further information about those responsible to come forward."
There is no suggestion in the video that Saunders had any drugs, or any genuine intention of supplying them to the woman.
On Tuesday morning the boxer was charged with misconduct by the British Boxing Board of Control.
A hearing will be held next week to investigate the incident.
It is the latest controversy for the boxer - who will defend his WBO middlewight crown next month against Demetrius Andrade.
In Belfast last month he was also chased out of a restaurant, having allegedly thrown chicken at WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, who is scheduled to fight his friend Tyson Fury.
Last year he also mocked a shop worker online for having long hair and wearing hoop earrings. He was branded a bully after uploading the picture to his social media account.
In a separate incident in the 2008 Olympics he was suspended after confronting a French woman in a sexually explicit and abusive manner while staying in a hotel with the British team.
Saunders' spokesman did not respond to The Sun's request for comment last night.
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