Police contact Chelsea over Ashley Cole air rifle claims

Police have started an investigation into claims that Ashley Cole accidentally shot an intern while "larking around" with a high-powered air rifle eight days ago. Officers contacted representatives of Chelsea football club on Monday afternoon after reports that the England international fired the weapon at Tom Cowan, a 21-year-old undergraduate, at close range at the training facility at Cobham. Cowan, a Loughborough sports science student on a year's internship at the London club, is expected to be contacted by police shortly. Surrey police said: "Enquiries are continuing to establish whether a criminal offence has taken place." The Chelsea left-back – and former husband of the Girls Aloud singer and X Factor judge Cheryl Cole – was said to have fired the gun at Cowan 24 hours after Chelsea's FA Cup fourth-round defeat by Everton. An "insider" told the News of the World that Cowan screamed in agony and went into shock after being hit in the side by a pellet from the .22 calibre air rifle, which is the most powerful gun that can legally be owned in Britain without a licence. Cowan was reportedly given treatment by the in-house medical team. Two days later the wound was weeping, needing further treatment, it was claimed. Cole reportedly brought the gun – which had a muzzle and nightscope – into the ground hidden inside a box. He apparently did not realise the weapon was loaded. Last year the Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, hailed Cole as the finest left-back in the world. He said the defender was a role model for all aspiring footballers. "He is highly motivated, a very good player and a very good professional," said Ancelotti. "I think everyone who appreciates football should appreciate him because he is also a very fair player ... On the pitch he is an example."