Sir Geoffrey Boycott sparked fury today after insisting he 'doesn't care a toss' about criticism from domestic abuse charities over his knighthood.

The cricketer was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning about his conviction in France in 1998 of beating his then girlfriend Margaret Moore in a hotel.

But the former Test opener told interviewer Martha Kearney that he was unmoved by claims that the award given by Theresa May sent a 'dangerous message'.

Mrs May recognised her sporting hero Sir Geoffrey, 78, along with former England cricket captain Andrew Strauss, as they both got knighthoods for services to sport.

But Boycott was asked by Kearney about the assault, which he has always denied but saw him fined £5,000 and given a three-month suspended prison sentence.

He said: 'It's 25 years ago, love. In a French court. She tried to blackmail me for a million pounds. I said no, because in England if you pay any money at all we think 'hang on there must be something there'.

'I said I'm not paying anything - I'm not sure I've actually got a million at the time. It's a court case in France where you are guilty - which is one reason I don't vote to remain in Europe - you're guilty until you are proved innocent.

'That's totally the opposite to England and it is very difficult to prove your innocence on another country, another language.

'And most people in England don't believe it. I didn't do it. Move on. It's a cross I have to bear, right or wrong, good or bad. I have to live with it and I do, because I am clear in my mind - and I think most people in England are - that it is not true.'

Kearney then said: 'Although the chief executive of Women's Aid has...