I do not believe Joeline Joel's evidence that she didn't attack you and your friend

Judge David Lynch

Judge David Lynch told Cadamarteri he had not imposed a custodial sentence because the punch was not unprovoked.

Independent witness Paul Bell said the former England under-21s player had delivered the punch in self defence after Miss Joel punched his friend and raised her fist to strike him.

Mr Bell claimed the three men had not been making obscene comments at the women but that they were trying to "chat them up".

Fining Cadamarteri �2,000 and ordering him to pay costs of �3,657, Judge Lynch said: "I do not believe Joeline Joel's evidence that she didn't attack you and your friend.

'Good character'

"I do accept the evidence of the independent witness that because of something that was said by one of your group she approached your friend and punched him twice in the face.

"She then walked to you, drew her fists back would have punched you in the face but you punched her first, knocking her to the ground."

Judge Lynch accepted that Cadamarteri was a man of previous good character.

The court heard Cadamarteri was provoked

The former under-21 international agreed to pay the fine within 28 days.

But the striker is still under investigation by police for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He initially told police he was nowhere near the scene of the incident and claimed it was a case of mistaken identity.

He also asked the two friends he was with at the time of the assault, Peter Fletcher and Denny Patterson, to provide him with a false alibi.

Cadamarteri received legal aid to fight his case but the court was told that he had volunteered to refund the money.

He also volunteered to make payments to charities.

Cadamarteri refused to comment on the sentence as he left court.

An Everton spokesman said: "The matter will be discussed by the manager and the board of directors over the weekend."