Former Everton striker Marcus Bent is declared bankrupt ‘after owing millions in unpaid tax’

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.

Bent, pictured during his playing days with Everton in a match against Newcastle United in 2005 was declared bankrupt at the High Court

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

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.

Marcus Bent’s career

1995–1998 Brentford                                                    2006–2008 Charlton Athletic     

1998–1999 Crystal Palace                                      2007–2008 Wigan Athletic (loan) 

1999 Port Vale                                                                 2008–2011 Birmingham City

1999–2000 Sheffield United                                2009–2010 Middlesbrough (loan)

2000–2001 Blackburn Rovers                              2010 Queens Park Rangers (loan)

2001–2004 Ipswich Town                                     2010–2011 Wolves (loan)

2003–2004 Leicester City (loan)                        2011 Sheffield United (loan)

2004–2006 Everton                                                 2011–2012 Mitra Kukar

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