Drink-driving ex-Albion player who told police he was a 'millionaire' tells court he has no money
A drink-driving footballer who police said had boasted he was a millionaire ‘star’ insisted he had no income and savings after appearing in court on an arrest warrant.
James Hurst, 26, a full-back whose career started at West Bromwich Albion, was described as ‘arrogant’ by a policewoman who breathalysed him and he failed to turn up for a trial at Llandudno magistrates’ court in North Wales last week.
He was convicted of driving a Ford Focus in Wrexham high street with a breath-alcohol reading of 60 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit being 35 – and being drunk and disorderly last December.
Hurst, who left the Baggies in 2013 and most recently played for Wrexham, had denied the charges but on Wednesday pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to bail for his trial on April 5.
“I was otherwise engaged,” he told magistrates when he was brought before them in the dock.
During the sentencing hearing, the player was warned by the court chairman it was an offence to fill in an income form incorrectly.
When the magistrates said they did not accept his completed declaration, Hurst told court chairman Brian Cossey: “That’s your problem.”
He was fined £770 for drink-driving, £330 on both of the other charges, and must pay £877 costs – a total of £2,307.
A 20-month driving ban was also imposed.
James Neary, prosecuting, said Hurst, of Somerville Road, Sutton Coldfield, had driven the wrong way along a one-way street, but he apologised for his mistake to a Pc and alcohol was not smelled at that stage.
Pc Sarah Smith said Hurst told her he had not drunk any alcohol because he had a match.
He was allowed to turn the car around and drive off.
Pc Smith said she returned to Wrexham police station but minutes later had been informed Hurst was urinating against the wall of the Nationwide building society and he was unsteady on his feet.
Hurst went into a pub and the officer followed before breathalysing and arresting him.
“He stated ‘I’m a millionaire, I will take the ban and pay the fine,' I would describe his attitude as arrogant. He showed no remorse for what he had been arrested for,” Pc Smith told the magistrates.
Pc Anita Hickish said Hurst insisted 'I’m a star' and he said police could 'Google' him.
He allegedly told police when asked to sign a document: 'You can sell that.'
Mr Neary said inquiries showed he had nothing to drink at the pub where police found him after he had driven. But CCTV showed he had eight pints before getting in the car earlier.
The prosecutor added that Hurst had no previous convictions.
Hurst, defending himself, told the court he was not in employment.
Hurst came through the youth ranks at Albion and had loan spells at clubs including Shrewsbury and Birmingham City before leaving in 2013.
A spell at Crawley Town then came in between two brief stints in Iceland before Hurst went on to play at various non-league clubs including Hednesford Town, AFC Telford and Wrexham, who he left by mutual consent last month.
