1:37PM, Mon Aug 27, 2012

Former Newcastle Midfielder's Wedding Suit Apology

By Hugh Macknight Location: North Tyneside

Former Newcastle United midfielder Danny Guthrie has apologised after a row over claims he failed to return rented wedding suits.

The Reading player is alleged to have hired two suits for his wedding in June while playing for Newcastle, but transferred to Reading without giving them back to the Newcastle-based business.

The hire shop Tyne was left out of pocket after taking him and his bride to the small claims court.

The midfielder, who was earning £4,000 a week from Newcastle United, hired the suits from Blades Formal Menswear in Ponteland, Northumberland, for his lavish wedding to Liverpudlian girlfriend Rebecca Middleman.

The reported £40,00 bash was allegedly marred by a brawl, with staff at Allerton Castle, an estate near Harrogate, Yorkshire, with guests throwing lobster thermidor at one another.

After the big day Guthrie allegedly failed to take the suits back.

Business owner Suzanne Armstrong said the outfits, new lightweight mohair suits costing £75 each to hire, were for Guthrie’s father and father-in-law.

They were due to be returned the week after the wedding on June 5.

“We thought maybe they had gone straight on their honeymoon so we gave them the benefit of the doubt,” said 38-year-old Suzanne, who lives in Benton, North Tyneside with her husband Robert.

On June 13, Robert finally got through to Rebecca.

“She said she was very sorry there had been a mix-up, it was their fault and they would get them back to us,” said the 42-year-old, who owns Ford Garage in Cramlington.

But still there was no sign of the suits from the new Mr and Mrs Guthrie – who by now had racked up a £1,270 bill in overdue charges.

Suzanne, who has been running her business for two years, said they were forced to go through the small claims court.

“One of the suits was brand new,” she said. “I have never had it happen before.

“Things go missing and get damaged, that’s part of the understanding. Most people come in and say they are really sorry.”

Suzanne was forced to replace both suits, at a cost of £220 each, and spent £320 making her court claim.

After being contacted by a Newcastle-based newspaper through Reading FC, Rebecca contacted Suzanne and apologised for the delay, promising to cover all costs.

Guthrie said: “First and foremost we’d like to apologise for the inconvenience.

“The problem was that straight after the wedding everything in the house went into boxes and into storage so that was why it wasn’t returned.

“I’d been living in a hotel and we’ve only just found a house down here so it’s all been unpacked now and everything has been returned and paid for.”