CONTROVERSIAL former Chester City chairman Stephen Vaughan, his ex-club captain son and a Neston man have been charged with serious assault after a policeman was left with a fractured cheek bone.

Businessman Vaughan Snr, 48, of Thurstaston Road, Heswall, his son Stephen Vaughan Jnr, 25, also of Thurstaston Road and 29-year-old Paul Garner, of Millfield, Neston, will appear at Wirral Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 26.

It is alleged a 28-year-old Merseyside police officer was investigating a disturbance at the up-market Jug and Bottle hotel and restaurant, close to Vaughan Snr’s Heswall home, when he was assaulted at about 10.10pm on Easter Sunday.

Merseyside Police media officer Nicola Davies said: “Merseyside Police can confirm that three men have been charged with causing grievous bodily harm in connection with an incident on Thurstaston Road in Heswall last month.

“Stephen Vaughan, aged 48, of Thurstaston Road in Heswall, Stephen Vaughan, aged 25, also of Thurstaston Road in Heswall and 29-year-old Paul Garner, of Millfield in Neston have been charged with section 18 assault following the attack of a 28-year-old man.

“They will appear at Wirral Magistrates’ Court on May 26, 2010.”

Vaughan Snr took over as chairman and majority shareholder of Chester City FC in 2001 but following relegation back to the Conference last year the club was wound-up at the High Court in March over an unpaid tax bill.

Former Liverpool FC reserve Vaughan Jnr made 80 appearances for Chester before he signed for Marine in March.