The 1995 Assault that Shook Vinnie Jones

Former footballer Vinnie Jones has spoken out about his struggles with mental health and addiction in a new Netflix documentary. The 61-year-old recalled having suicidal thoughts after his 1995 assault on journalist Ted Oliver.

According to the documentary, Vinnie Jones grabbed Daily Mirror journalist Ted Oliver,put him in a headlock, and clamped his teeth around the reporter's nose in a Dublin hotel following an abandoned England-Ireland football match.

The incident happened in 1995, and Vinnie Jones was also reported to the FA. At the time, Vinnie was also working as a columnist for News Of The World, which Piers Morgan was the editor of.

Piers Morgan sent Vinnie over to Ireland to report on the 1995 match between England and the Republic of Ireland. However, due to a riot caused by Combat 18, the game was abandoned.

The Fallout and Vinnie's Descent into Darkness

Despite remaining strong in front of the public, Vinnie was suffering with his mental health from the fallout. Speaking on his behaviour, former Wimbledon Bobby Gould said: 'I could tell that this is not right.'

The way he was talking and the way he was behaving. The alcohol was doing something way out of order.'

Vinnie explained that it was not the culture at the time to get somebody to give you help. 'So I go back to the booze again,' he added.

Due to the public backlash from the incident, Piers ultimately had to sack Vinnie due to his acttions, despite him releasing a mea culpa.

'I didn't want to fire him. I loved Vinnie. Personally, I loved him. Professionally, he was a brilliant columnist. But I underestimated just how much it got to him,' Piers said.

A Glimpse into Vinnie's Mental Health Struggles

Vinnie then found himself in a mentally vulnerable position. He explained: 'I was on the bed and was just curled up in the, you know, in like, the baby poistion. I was just curled up like that. And I was like... Enough.'

Can't keep doing this to people. Can't do it to the family. So, I thought I'd go for a walk up the wood.'

'I took the gun. Walked up the wood, and then... All stupid things go through your head.'

And the easiest thing to do was just stop it right there and then. That would have been it.'

And then I sort of came round. It's like being kncked out, I suppose, like in a boxing ring, and you come round and there's all the screaming, the shout, and it's all muffled and everything else, slow motion .'

And it just goes... . And you're kind of back and you go, 'Right, f*** this'

Breaking the Stigma around Mental Health

Join the discussion: Should celebrity struggles with addiction and grief be more openly discussed to help break stigma? What's your view?

In a new Netflix documentary titled Untold UK: Vinnie Jones, the former footballer, 61, recalled having suicidal thoughts after his 1995 assault on journalist Ted Oliver.

According to the documentary , Vinnie Jones grabbed Daily Mirror journalist Ted Oliver, put him in a headlock, and clamped his teeth around the reporter's nose in a Dublin hotel following an abandoned England-Ireland football match.

The incident happened in 1995, and Vinnie Jones was also reported to the FA. At the time, Vinnie was also working as a columnist for News Of The World, which Piers Morgan was the editor of.