Harry Redknapp denies two separate charges of looking like Bagpuss

Redknapp: denies the charges

Tottenham Hotspur football manager Harry Redknapp has denied two separate counts of looking like 1970s TV favourite Bagpuss, a London court has heard.

Redknapp, 64, stood in the dock at the start of a criminal trial at Southwark Crown Court yesterday, in which he stands accused of looking exactly like the old, saggy cloth cat made popular by the 1974 children’s television series.

Potential jurors for the case were warned by the judge to leave behind any allegiances or prejudices they may have towards Bagpuss, and to concentrate on the facts.

Judge Anthony Leonard told them: “Let me make it clear this case is not about Bagpuss, but rather an individual who stands accused of looking a lot like him.

“Bagpuss is not on trial today, and it doesn’t matter that you might have enjoyed watching him during its 13 episode run forty years ago. If you are chosen, you will take an oath or affirmation to reach true verdicts according to the evidence and you must leave all Bagpuss related prejudice and favour behind and you try this case solely on the evidence.”

Redknapp is accused of closely resembling Bagpuss throughout his time as Portsmouth manager from 2002 to 2007, with separate charges filed for still looking like Bagpuss to this day.

The trial is expected to last for two weeks, with legal experts suggesting that the verdict could go either way.

“There’s no doubt that Mr Redknapp does resemble Bagpuss closely,” said leading QC Philip Morrison. “Those big, saggy jowls and small, sunken eyes are unmistakeable. The real question is whether not he has done so deliberately, and that’s what the jury will need to bear in mind.

“For instance, if it is proven, as has been alleged, that he told various members of Tottenham’s back room staff to dress up as mice, pull little bits of string and sing: ‘we will heave and we will ho,’ then he could be facing a long jail term.”

The trial continues today, with something about some sort of tax evasion also expected to be mentioned, for some reason.