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GRASS TAUNTS HAUNT DUBERRY

LEEDS defender Michael Duberry has revealed how being labelled a "grass" for giving evidence against team-mate Jonathan Woodgate has affected his career and personal life.

The former Chelsea star told the court how Woodgate confessed to being involved in a fight on the night Asian student Sarfraz Najeib was repeatedly punched and kicked in Leeds city centre.

That statement and the other evidence saw Woodgate cleared of GBH but convicted of affray with the bond between the two players firmly broken.

"It was horrible, the biggest decision of my life. I knew I'd be labelled a grass," Duberry told 'The Sun'

"It's not a tag anyone wants, but now I may be labelled with it all my career - and for what? For helping a mate out.

"Woody said, 'You can't.' I said, 'I'm going to have to. I'm not going to do 18 months in prison for something I haven't done. I'm not doing it, Woody.'

"He asked me not to do it and that made me even worse.

"I couldn't even look my mate in the eyes. But I've done nothing wrong and I'm shaking and it's like the worst-ever feeling.

"I did save my skin but it wasn't the motive. I had to tell the truth as I felt I'd been backed into a corner by trying to help someone throughout a whole year.

"The only thing I could do was tell the truth. I spent two-and-a-half days in there getting grilled and you thought you'd done something right. And all of a sudden you're being called a liar."

Duberry also revealed that crazed fans were sending him death threats in the wake of the trial

"You can't say take it with a pinch of salt because it's a death threat," said the defender.

"What if a silly coward wants to have a pop at me as I'm walking down the street with my girls? That frightens me."

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