32 year old ex-EFL and non league player James Hurst, currently behind bars, faces a lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty.
Birmingham Crown Court confirmed he’s guilty of stalking, two counts of harassment, two counts of sending false communications and one offence of breaching a non-molestation order.
Hurst, who played last played for Northern Premier League Premier Division side Ilkeston Town, where he was a defender, is currently being held in HMP Birmingham and appeared in court via video link this week.
Ex-Blues and WBA footballer facing lengthy jail-time as judge says ‘I’m sorry’ https://t.co/UsuEufxJQ2
— Birmingham City News (@BCFC_News) July 24, 2024
As per Birmingham Mail’s court reporter, Carl Jackson, Hurst, who is from Somerville Road, Sutton Coldfield, requested how long it’s taken to be sentenced.
Seems he’s in for more unrest after his case was adjourned due to complications over Hurst representing himself.
Recorder Sarah McKeown expressed concern over the potential for Hurst to receive a lengthy prison sentence, as she had not yet reviewed the prosecution’s sentencing note.
The court were told that the document couldn’t be printed, preventing Hurst from seeing the Crown’s argument on the starting point for sentencing. Despite this, Hurst remained unfazed and was eager to proceed with the sentencing immediately.
He said to the judge: “I’m of the opinion I want this over and done with as soon as possible your honour, so I will be more than happy to be sentenced today.
“Obviously I have to address you with what I’ve got to say. That’s for me. The most important thing is what I have to say is heard. Where the prosecution has the case is where they have it.”
He wanted t find out what was happening as quickly as possible so that he could make necessary arrangements for the care of his mother, who resides with him.
But this request was turned away by McKeown, adjourning the case to a later date when Hurst could be brought to court in person to review the prosecution’s statement. He accepted it, but it will be much to his frustration at not being able to know there and then on being sentenced.
She said: “This is something where you are potentially facing an immediate custodial sentence and not an insignificant custodial sentence. I have to make sure matters proceed fairly given you are unrepresented.
“I’m very sorry it cannot be resolved today. It is not your fault.”
Hurst also asked if there was the ‘chance for bail’, only to be told there isn’t.
McKeown replied: “No, I’m afraid not you are going to remain in custody.”
In 2014, Torquay made the decision to suspend him from all football activities pending an investigation over an alleged incident on a night out in 2015, then got sent out on loan to Guiseley.
He joined Telford in 2016, and after receiving a red card in a match against Salford, he was involved in an argument with fans on social media, this then saw him get suspended by the club and a investigation into his behaviour, subsequently being transfer-listed and fined two weeks wages.
Back in 2018, he once told police that he’s a “I’m a millionaire”, “I’m a star”, and told the officer to ‘Google’ him when convicted of drink-driving and being drunk and disorderly in Wrexham, adding he’d “take the ban and pay the fine. I don’t give a f***”.
Then in June 2020, he was remanded in custody by a court in Glasgow after pleading guilty to acting in a threatening or abusive manner towards police officers following a domestic incident; he coughed in officers’ faces, told them he had Covid, used derogatory language to describe a female police officer and shouted anti-Scottish abuse. He was sentenced to 160 hours unpaid community service.
HURST’S CAREER:
Youth
2001–2008 – West Bromwich Albion
Senior
2008–2010 – Portsmouth
2010 → ÍBV (loan) – 17 games (1 goal)
2010–2013 – West Bromwich Albion – 3 game (0 goals)
2011 → Blackpool (loan) – 2 games (0 goals)
2011–2012 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) – 9 games (0 goals)
2012 → Chesterfield (loan) – 13 games (0 goals)
2012 → Birmingham City (loan) – 3 games (0 goals)
2013 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) – 4 games (0 goals)
2013 – Valur – 8 games (2 goals)
2013–2014 – Crawley Town – 21 games (0)
2014 → Northampton Town (loan) – 1 game (0 goals)
2014 – Valur – 9 games (0 goals)
2014–2015 – Hednesford Town – 35 games (3 goals)
2015–2016 – Torquay United – 17 games (7 goals)
2015–2016 → Guiseley (loan) – 21 games (4 goals)
2016–2017 – AFC Telford United – 14 games (0 goals)
2017 – Dover Athletic – 14 games (0 goals)
2017–2018 – Wrexham – 19 games (0 goals)
2018 – Nuneaton Borough – 5 games (0 goals)
2018 – Welling United – 3 games (0 goals)
2018–2019 – Sutton Coldfield Town
2019–2020 – Hednesford Town – 16 games (1 goal)
2020–2022 – Buxton – 24 games (2 goals)
2022–2023 – Tamworth – 21 games (5 goals)
2023– Ilkeston Town
International
2007 – England U16 – 2 games (0 goals)
2008–2009 – England U17 – 12 games (0 goals)
2011 – England U19 – 5 games (0 goals)
2011 – England U20 – 1 game (0 goals)
This is how fans reacted as the 32 year old ex-EFL and non league player faces a lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty…
@Zigiclegend19: The worst full back we have ever had. Abysmal. Surprised he didn’t get cramp in the courtroom.
@Manterik: He was shit
@Baribandgeek: Don’t associate him with Blues. He only played 3 games for us on loan and was one of the worst players we’ve seen at St Andrew’s.
@foreveroufc: sounds like he’s got quite the track record for getting into trouble, now this! behind bars is where he belongs
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