DUBERRY: WHY I HAD TO SELL OUT MY MATE; Leeds star 'needed to tell truth'.

Byline: STEVE DENNIS

LEEDS United defender Michael Duberry yesterday told a court he "sold out" his friend Jonathan Woodgate to save himself by telling the truth about the night an Asian youth was attacked.

The 25-year-old player accepted he would now be alienated at the club for revealing his team-mate's private admission that he had been in a fight with Asians when Sarfraz Najeib, 20, was beaten unconscious.

And he also told how Leeds manager David O'Leary knew last week he was going to change his story when he took the stand. On his third day in the witness box, Duberry said: "The repercussions may be that I might not be liked at Leeds United now.

"I might come out of this looking bad. To some, I sold out my mate to save myself but it is something I've had to do.

"In doing that, I might have damaged Woody. I regret that but I had to put across my version of the truth. It is the first time I have looked after myself since January 12 last year."

As he wrestled with his conscience, Duberry turned to his boss O'Leary, the only other person he confided in apart from his mum and dad, Hull Crown Court heard.

When asked by prosecutor Nicholas Campbell QC what he said, he replied: "I said 'I'll tell it like it is, which is the truth'."

Duberry, who denies plotting to pervert justice, told Woodgate, 21, he would be changing his story just minutes before he went into the witness box on Tuesday. He had also informed co-accused Lee Bowyer.

He said midfielder Bowyer was "concerned but not shocked" when he let him know.

Earlier, the court heard how Duberry drove Woodgate and his friends past the attack scene in Leeds as Mr Najeib was being treated by paramedics on January 12 last year.

But he could not recall anyone expressing concern over the student's condition.

Instead, he claimed, his drunken friends had been more interested in the hi-tech TVs in the back of his Range Rover.

Later Woodgate "chilled" over a cup of tea at Duberry's home after allegedly admitting he fought an Asian.

But the jovial atmosphere changed when team-mate Michael Bridges phoned to tell him Mr Najeib was "half-dead" and police were everywhere.

Duberry told the court: "I thought 'f*****g hell, this is a lot more serious'."

But he said he didn't discuss the incident because he did not want to get involved.

He added: "That might seem selfish, it might seem horrible but that is how I saw it."

Duberry was accused of returning to the attack scene to see if the "coast was clear" for Woodgate to return to a hotel. The player denied this saying he stayed at home and his team-mate had left in a taxi.

He has admitted lying to police, claiming he did so on the advice of Leeds United lawyer Peter McCormick.

Woodgate, Bowyer, 24, Paul Clifford and Neale Caveney, both 21, deny GBH with intent as well as affray.

Woodgate, Clifford and Caveney also deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. The trial continues on Monday.

CAPTION(S):

EVIDENCE: Duberry; TRIAL: Woodgate; BOSS: O'Leary