Suspect charged over knife attack on West Ham defender Calum Davenport

A 25-year-old man has been charged in connection with a knife attack on West Ham defender Calum Davenport, police have revealed. Worrell Whitehurst, of Finsley Walk, Derby, was charged with grievous bodily harm after the 26-year-old player was stabbed at his mother's home Bedford on Saturday after an alleged dispute over his pregnant sister. Bedfordshire Police said Whitehurst was also charged with causing actual bodily harm to Davenport's 49-year-old mother, as well as driving whilst disqualified and possession of a bladed article. The man will appear at Bedford Magistrates' Court later on Monday. A 19-year-old man arrested shortly after the incident was released on police bail pending further inquiries, police said. Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola lead the messages of support to the former England Under 21 international, whose condition has since stabilised. Zola said: 'We are very sorry about what happened. It is a terrible story. 'We are close to him. We have to try to imagine what he is going through at the moment and hopefully he will get better.' A spokeswoman for the force said: "A man has now been charged and is due toappear at Bedford magistrates' court this morning." Davenport today remains in a serious but stable condition while his mother is'recovering well', police added. The defender, a former England Under-21 international, underwent emergency surgery at Bedford Hospital for stab wounds to both legs after an incident at his mother's home at 5am on Saturday. Davenport cost West Ham £3m when he joined them from Tottenham during thesummer of 2007. He did not figure in the first game of this season, at Wolves last week and, after struggling to hold down a first-team place, has been linked with a move. Bedford-born Davenport spent a spell on loan at Premier League rivals Sunderland last season and has also been loaned out to Watford. The centre-back started his career at Coventry and has also played on loan at Southampton and Norwich.

Source: Daily_Mail