Leicester star Simpson allowed to join title parade

Simpson asked a court on Thursday to let him pay a fine instead of finishing his community sentence for throttling his ex-girlfriend Stephanie Ward.

The 29-year-old's lawyer said press "intrusion" meant the footballer had only completed 145 of the 300 hours he was given for the assault in December 2014.

But District Judge Alexandra Simmonds said Simpson had so much money a fine would be "no punishment".

Instead, Judge Simmonds, sitting at Manchester Magistrates' Court, revoked the unpaid work order and gave Simpson an immediate curfew order, whereby Simpson would have to be at home between 10pm to 6am for the next 21 days.

That would have left Manchester United trainee Simpson with an electronic ankle tag at his home in Salford -- ruling him out of shock champions Leicester's celebrations, which include an end of season bash after Sunday's final game at Chelsea, an open top bus tour of Leicester on Monday and a tour to Thailand.

But on Friday, Simpson was back in front of the bench, this time at Manchester Crown Court, after he launched a fast-tracked appeal against the curfew order.

Simpson's lawyers said twice the defendant had tried to complete his unpaid work order but was frustrated by the press taking photographs and speaking to other offenders and probation staff after finding out where he was doing the unpaid work.

It was claimed no alternative placement could be found and he had asked for a fine instead.

Judge Richard Mansell QC, sitting with two magistrates, reversed the decision to replace the unpaid work with a curfew order and instead re-imposed the unpaid work order.

He told Simpson he can complete the rest of his 300 hours once his club commitments diminish over the summer.

Simpson was first accused of the assault against Stephanie Ward, the mother of his child, after the pair rowed following a night out in December 2014.

Police called to the house found him straddling Ms Ward with his hands around her throat and he had to be pulled away.

He denied the assault but was convicted after a trial and later abandoned attempts to appeal against the 2015 conviction.