Owen not to appeal
Paul Owen has decided not to appeal against a 15-month jail sentence he received for his part in a street brawl.
The Hornets full-back was told by his London barrister that appeal proceedings might not be completed before his release.
Owen, who spent his 25th birthday behind bars a fortnight ago, is applying to be electronically 'tagged', which, combined with a reduction for good behaviour, could see him free by the end of the year.
He has been advised that it could take up to six weeks to appear before the appeal judge and a further month to be heard by judges in the Court of Appeal in London.
Ray Taylor commented "As I understand it, Paul is not planning to appeal against his sentence in view of the time it could take. It is irrespective of the cost, which would be considerable. He could change his mind and I would love to see him appeal if it helped him get out, but at the end of the day, it would be hanging over him and if he lost it, he would have to start all over again. There comes a time when he has to just count down time to his release."
Owen was jailed for violent disorder on 29 July for his part in a brawl with three Leeds Rhinos players outside a nightclub in Leeds in May last year. All four pleaded guilty
He was moved from HMP Leeds to an open prison in Wetherby on Thursday
It is unclear yet whether the Leeds players, who have taken advice from the same barrister, will appeal.
Ray Taylor added “He has a tentative release date of 20 November if his request to be " tagged " is granted . I have spoken to his employers and if this date is confirmed they will hold his job available for him until then. This will be a big boost for Paul “
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