Former Everton striker Marcus Bent, 40, is declared bankrupt ‘after owing millions in unpaid tax’ despite earning £10million in his playing career
- Former Premier League striker Marcus Bent is declared bankrupt at High Court
- He failed to pay HMRC several large tax bills and debt ran into ‘seven figures’
- Official documents show that he invested in five film based tax schemes
- It comes four years after he dodged jail for attacking police with a meat cleaver
Former Premier League striker Marcus Bent has been declared bankrupt after ‘owing millions’ in unpaid tax.
The former Everton, Ipswich Town and Charlton star, 40, earned up to £10million from football, pocketing up to £1million a year.
But he was made bankrupt in the High Court after failing to pay HMRC several large tax bills, it has been reported.
Sources said the debt ran into ‘seven figures’ and was because of Bent’s involvement in a number of failed tax avoidance schemes.
Marcus Bent (pictured left, outside Guildford Crown Court with his partner when he was on trial for affray in charged with affray in February 2016) and right during his playing days with Everton in a match against Newcastle United in 2005) was declared bankrupt at the High Court
Official documents show he invested in five film-based schemes, The Sun reports.
It comes just four years after he dodged jail when he attacked police during a cocaine-fuelled stand off.
Bare chested Bent was Tasered after he went at them with a meat cleaver.
He was handed a suspended sentence after admitting affray and possessing the Class A drug.
Bent, a former England Under 21 star, played for more than 15 clubs. He began his career at Brentford in 1995, and as well as spells at Ipswich, Charlton and Everton (pictured, in 2005) he played for Blackburn, Sheffield United, Port Vale and Birmingham
A year later he was fined after admitting possessing cocaine at Chessington World of Adventures.
Bent, a former England Under 21 star played for more than 15 clubs. He began his career at Brentford in 1995, and as well as spells at Ipswich, Charlton and Everton he played for Blackburn, Sheffield United, Port Vale and Birmingham.
His career ended in Indonesia when he signed for Mitra Kukar in 2011. After his conviction he signed for non-league Wick in 2017.
The bankruptcy notice confirms Bent, who lives in Manchester and Surrey, is now retired from the sport. The notice was granted on January 2.