Charges against Bellamy changed

Craig Bellamy has had charges against him reduced

Wales and Newcastle United football star Craig Bellamy has had two race charges against him changed by a court

The 24-year-old striker's case was charged over alleged racist abuse at a Cardiff city centre entertainment complex in March this year.

Mr Bellamy had been originally charged with two charges of racially aggravated harassment, which were withdrawn by Cardiff magistrates on Thursday.

They were replaced with lesser charges - using abusive or insulting words or behaviour, which were racially aggravated and a second charge of using abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Mr Bellamy had denied the original charges, but was not in court to enter a plea to the new charges.

The offences are alleged to have taken place when the Cardiff-born striker was in his home city on 24 March, preparing for Wales' Euro 2004 qualifier against Azerbaijan.

New hearing

The case centres around late-night events outside the Jumpin' Jaks nightclub in the city's Millennium Plaza complex, next door to the Millennium Stadium.

The footballer voluntarily attended a police station soon afterwards.

At the latest hearing, Mr Bellamy was remanded on unconditional bail ahead of an administrative hearing at Cardiff Magistrates Court on 4 September.

His lawyer Mark Haslam said: "The prosecution have reviewed the matter and removed the more serious charges.

"We don't propose to enter pleas today."

Bellamy is not expected to appear at the next hearing.

Mr Haslam said: "He lives in Newcastle and faces a long journey to Cardiff."

Magistrates chair Margaret Salisbury said: "We are prepared to discharge the two original offences and accept the two new charges."