A FLEETWOOD Town star has been cleared over allegations of sexual assault.
Lancashire Police questioned Richie Allen, currently on loan at AFC Fylde, after an allegation was made about an incident in a Blackpool club in July.
But the 26-year-old player, who lives in Preston, has been released by police with no further action, along with a 31-year-old man and 28-year-old man from the city.
The allegation was made in July – just seven months after he and partner Gemma lost their six-week-old baby boy in a tragedy at their home.
Lancashire Police’s Major Investigation Team and Public Protection Unit launched an investigation, but there were not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.
Allen was “devastated and embarrassed” at the ordeal according to his father Leroy, from Ribbleton, Preston.
Mr Allen snr, who is a radio presenter, said: “ We have had a horrific year. The death of Richie’s child devastated him, the football kept him going. A few months later Richie lost his auntie, my sister, aged just 45, and then these allegations came to light.
“Nobody ever thinks how these kind of allegations and the publicity will affect his relatives, especially on top of what we were already going through.
“There was no way he could have been charged, we all knew he hadn’t done it.”
Mr Allen snr said the family felt the footballer had been unfairly treated because of his profession and added: “He really was upset because his was the only name mentioned in the news. It’s just because he’s a footballer but he should be treated like anyone else, he hadn’t even been charged.
“People were sending him messages voicing their support because people know he would not do anything like that. There aren’t many professional footballers in Preston and we are proud of him. He wanted to be out there and do something positive with his life.
“We want everyone to know my son has been exonerated from these allegations.”
A spokesman for Lancashire Police confirmed Mr Allen had been cleared of the allegation.
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