The Daily Mail reports that the 27-year-old was arrested after allegedly hitting an ex-girlfriend in a nightclub row.
The incident took place at a club in the upmarket suburb of Yarm, near Middlesbrough, at about 1am on Sunday morning.
“She went over to one of his friends and said something that she shouldn’t have,” a local source told the Sunday Mail.
“He butted in and they were arguing.”
Then Downing reportedly hit his ex-girlfriend.
The source continued: “Police got there as they were thrown out. He caused a scene outside the club as well, when he realised they were going to take him in.”