A WEST Cumbrian rugby coach accused of touching a Spanish influencer’s bottom during a live social media stream has been defended by his club.

Gary Clarke, a youth coach for Wath Brow Hornets, appeared to reach out his arm as Isabella Gonzalez, better known as Gonsabella, was streaming on Twitch from a pub in Benidorm.

Mr Clarke, who is wearing a Wath Brow Hornets vest in the video, then moves his arm as Miss Gonzalez turns around to reprimand him.

A spokesperson for Wath Brow Hornets has now said that the incident had been taken out of context and added that there were no concerns over Mr Clarke, who has been involved with the club since he was a child.

The club spokesperson said: “All I know of Gary is he is a genuine lad. He coaches the 16s. He’s been with the club since he was six-years-old himself. He’s a nice lad. I don’t think he deserves anything like he’s getting at the moment.”

Mr Clarke was understood to have been on a break with friends when the footage was taken on September 20.

In a social media post afterwards, Ms Gonzalez said she had made a complaint to police.

She wrote: “They told me I did the right thing by reporting it but that it's going to be difficult to take the appropriate measures because they don't have more details of the man in question other than what you see in the video.

“They said they would tell me if they had any update. I would like to thank all the people who have taken the trouble and the time to write to me.”