Ex-Premier League star Marcus Bent who was Tasered by police after he charged at officers with a knife and a meat cleaver is warned he faces jail.

Former Premier League and England U21 footballer Marcus Bent is facing jail after charging at police officers with a 15-inch kitchen knife and meat cleaver.

The ex-Everton striker, 37, armed himself fearing he had been broken into and called police.

But the retired footballer then ran at a policeman with the weapons and so a colleague had to Taser him as he feared he was 'going to chop the officer'. 

The former player, who started his career at Brentford, admitted two counts of possessing a bladed article and affray at Guildford crown court. 

It happened at his flat in Esher, Surrey on September 13 last year.

The ex-Ipswich striker had previously entered a guilty plea to one count of possessing a Class A drug - cocaine. 

Bent, dressed in a slim-fit navy suit and white shirt, spoke only to confirm his name and enter his plea of guilty to affray. 

In a previous hearing, prosecutor Darren Matravers said: 'On September 13 of this year at around 9:30pm that night, the police received a 999 call from the defendant. He was reporting that intruders had broken into his flat and that he had locked himself in his bathroom, seeking protection. 

'A few minutes later officers arrived at the address. They were buzzed-in by another resident (in the block of flats).

'They knocked on the door of the defendant's flat, telling him to open the door. A number of officers were present.

'The defendant rushed out of the flat. He was holding a knife in one hand and a meat cleaver in the other hand.

'One of the officers describes the knife as a 15-inch chef's knife, in his right hand. He says he had a large meat cleaver in his left hand.

He raised it towards another officer's head and neck area. He believed he was going to chop the other officer with the cleaver. The officer deployed his Taser and the defendant fell to the floor as a consequence.

'It's the Crown's case he rushed from his flat holding two weapons, targeting those weapons towards the attending police officers and had to be Tasered as a consequence.' 

Judge Stephen Climie warned Bent he is at risk of being jailed. 

He told the ex-footballer: 'On the face of it a custodial sentence is justified. Whether that is the right sentence in the context of this case is not a matter I will prejudge.'

He also said the context of the incident would be fully revealed at sentencing.

He will be sentenced for all offences on February 12 and was released on unconditional bail. 

 

Bent, who had relationships with model Danielle Lloyd and actress Gemma Atkinson, was a household name in the top-flight for much of a career which started in 1995 and spanned 14 clubs. 

His transfer fees totalled more than £10million, including a £2.1m move to Blackburn Rovers where he won promotion as First Division runners up in 2001 and a £3m switch to Ipswich.

He was also signed by David Moyes while the Scot was in charge at Everton for £450,000 and won promotion from the Championship with Birmingham City as runners-up in 2009.

The London-born journeyman - who played 574 games and scored 113 goals during his professional career - finished at Indonesian Super League side Mitra Kukar.