A former professional footballer has been spared a custodial sentence after breaking into an antique shop and causing extensive damage during a drunken rampage. Ben Marshall, 35, who previously played for Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, caused more than £7,000 worth of destruction at Junk & Disorderly in Newport, Shropshire, following a night of heavy drinking.
The Incident
The court heard that on February 4, 2024, Marshall had been drinking in Newport before launching what was described as a 'heinous attack' on the shop. Prosecuting, Lucy Allen stated that Marshall left a pub and approached Junk & Disorderly on Upper Bar. He kicked a glass panel on the front door until it shattered, then 'crawled' inside. Once inside, he deliberately damaged various items, including the door, CCTV cameras, an antique cash register, and numerous items on shelves. He also ripped the CCTV system off the wall. The total damage, including loss of earnings for the two days the shop was closed, amounted to £7,450.
Court Proceedings
Marshall, of Stafford, admitted burglary with intent to cause damage and criminal damage at Telford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes up to 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, six months of alcohol treatment, 120 hours of unpaid work, and £1,500 in compensation.
Chairman of the bench Steven Jonas remarked: '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.'
Background
Marshall's football career began in 2009 with Stoke City, followed by spells at Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers. He was signed by Wolves for £1.2 million in 2016, making 25 Championship appearances before being loaned to Millwall. He also represented England at Under-21 level, coming on as a substitute for Wilfried Zaha in a European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan. Currently, he plays for Eccleshall FC in the tenth tier of English football.
The court was told that Marshall had 'hit rock bottom' after losing his fortune through a series of poor financial decisions. Defending, John Skinner said: 'He is a man who came from a position of some wealth but through bad advice effectively lost everything financially.' Skinner added that Marshall had resorted to alcohol as a coping strategy and had initially thought he heard screams from the property, though he had little explanation for his subsequent actions.
