I'm less inclined to defend Ashley Cole than Robert Mugabe, but the sanctification of his wife has started to earn even that snake a slither of sympathy.
Through the eyes of St Cheryl's apostles, Cole's arrest for being drunk and abusive last week was the least of his crimes.
The real one was betraying "Poor Cheryl" who was thousands of miles away on a blister-inducing pilgrimage for Africa's starving.
No she wasn't.
Like every other celeb on the Comic Relief walk up Kilimanjaro, she was doing it mainly for herself. Jostling with egos the size of the Congo (think Chris Moyles) to appear hip, funny and Bonoliciously bountiful.
So why the shock over her narcissistic bonehead of a hubby going on the lash while she's away?
Every football fan who's had the misfortune to watch Cole knows he's a pouting waste of space.
So surely she does.
Which makes me wonder if constantly forgiving him is simply an inspired career move.
Cole is the social leper Mother Cheryl of Calcutta II needs to keep up her status as Diana's heiress.
The nation's favourite beautiful, and oh-so-beautifully flawed, victim.
I think I migh torganise a walk for Ashley Relief.
Mirror
