Ex-Man Utd youth ace spared jail for smashing up vintage store after ‘hitting all-time low’
A former England U21 international once on the books of Manchester United was spared jail for a “heinous attack” on an antique shop when he caused more than £7,000 of damage
Ben Marshall outside Telford Magistrates’ Court(Image: Iconic Media Group / SWNS)
An ex-Manchester United youth footballer broke into an antique shop and smashed it up in a drunken rage.
Ben Marshall, 35, caused more than £7,000 of damage to the shop – ironically called Junk & Disorderly – after a booze-fuelled night out. A court heard the former winger, who was also on the books of then Premier League side Stoke City, before a Championship career with Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Millwall and Norwich – has “hit rock bottom” after losing his fortune through a string of bad financial decisions.
The ex-England U-21 star had been drinking in Newport, Shropsshire on February 4 this year before he launched the “heinous attack”. Lucy Allen, prosecuting, said Marshall left a pub and walked towards Junk & Disorderly, on Upper Bar in the town.
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Ms Allen said Marshall kicked a glass panel on the front door until it smashed, and then “crawled” inside. She said: “He then proceeded to deliberately damage various items, as well as ripping the CCTV off the wall.”
Items damaged included the door, CCTV cameras, an antique cash register and several items on the shelves. Ms Allen said that with the loss of earnings for the two days the shop was closed, the value of the damage was £7,450.
Marshall, of Stafford, admitted burglary with intent to cause damage, and damaging property when he appeared at Telford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 5.
He was sentenced to a community order for 12 months, including up to 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Marshall was also ordered to undergo six months alcohol treatment, do 120 hours of unpaid work and told to pay £1,500 compensation.
Sentencing, chairman of the bench Steven Jonas said: “This was a particularly heinous attack on a premises where you went completely ballistic and caused huge amounts of damage.
“I accept you are remorseful about it and accept it was caused in drink – although that is an aggravating factor, not a mitigating one.”
Marshall started his career in United’s academy as a seven-year-old in 1997. He remained there until 2005, when he joined Dario Gradi at Crewe Alexandra’s academy, before signing for Stoke in 2009.
He had loan spells with Northampton Town, Cheltenham Town, Carlisle United – where he won the Football League Trophy – and Sheffield Wednesday, before signing for then Championship Leicester and next moving to Blackburn. He was bought for £1.2m by Wolves in 2016 and went onto make 25 appearances in the Championship with the Midlanders.
Marshall currently plays for Eccleshall FC – who compete in the North West Counties League – in the 10th tier of English football. The court heard Marshall had issues with alcohol and claimed he heard screaming from the property at the time of the incident.
John Skinner, defending, said: “I think it is fair to say that in February of this year Mr Marshall was going through a difficult time. He is a man who came from a position of some wealth but through bad advice effectively lost everything financially.”
Mr Skinner said Marshall had resorted to alcohol as a coping strategy having “hit rock bottom”. He added: “After drinking at a local pub he initially thought he heard screams coming from the property. He broke in but has little explanation for his actions afterwards.
