By Mark Vester

Ricky Hatton's rep Max Clifford released a statement on behalf of the Manchester star, telling the press that Hatton is "devastated and distraught" over Saturday's story that appeared in News of The World. The British tabloid published photos, along with a revealing video, which clearly shows Hatton in a bathroom snorting several lines of [what is believed to be] cocaine. In the video, Hatton is cutting up lines of the white powded with a credit card and then snorting it through a rolled up £20 note.

Hatton makes no excuses over the video. Close family and friends are hoping the scandal will force Hatton to clean up his well known lifestyle of partying until the late hours of the night. 

"I have spoken to Ricky just half an hour ago, he is very upset and very subdued, very flat," said Clifford. "He feels he's let everybody that matters down badly, his friends, his family, his fans and of course most of all himself, that he is, in his own words, he's been in a bad place for some time, probably before even his last fight and obviously he's really upset about what has happened but he totally takes responsibility, takes the blame, 'It's all down to me'.

"He just wants to let everybody know how he feels, he's got to sort himself out. I think it is fair to say, friends and family have been trying to warn him in recent times, for the last few months and now they are all hoping this situation will bring him to his senses. I think obviously everybody is hoping some good will come out of this. He feels devastated and we all hope this will be the wake-up call."

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