Locked Up: 10 English Footballers That Went to Jail
Footballers Behind Bars: 10 English Football Stars That Went to Jail
Footballers want to make headlines for their actions on the pitch - but some gain infamy for the wrong reasons.
Players are human after all - and humans make mistakes.
But who are the 10 English footballers that went to jail? The Sporting Blog tells all.
Ian Wright served time
We’ve already covered how stars like Paul Shepherd, Lee Hughes, Luke McCormick and Nathan Ashton ended up behind bars - but who are the other English footballers who were jailed during their careers? Read on to find out!
Tony Adams: 1990 - Drink Driving
Two months in jail for drink-driving (1990)
Adams was an alcoholic for most of his football career and one incident would land him a two-month stint in Chelmsford prison after crashing his car into the wall while four times over the legal limit.
The former Arsenal and England defender admitted to the Express in 2022 that being behind bars didn’t change his mindset, as he drove while drinking immediately after his release, only giving sobriety a chance years later.
Adams would eventually set up the Sporting Chance Clinic to offer players mental and emotional support, and he’s now an ambassador for clean living.
Ian Wright: 1982 - Driving without a license
Two weeks in jail for driving without a licence (1982)
Wright nearly destroyed his football career before turning professional after being jailed in 1982 for driving without a licence, tax and insurance.
He spent two weeks in Chelmsford prison and told Good Morning Britain in 2016 that the stint behind bars changed his life for good.
Wright would go on to play for England (1991 - 1998), Crystal Palace (1985 - 1991), Arsenal (1991 - 1998), West Ham United (1998/98), Nottingham Forest (1999), Celtic (1999/00) and Burnley (2000).
Adam Johnson: 2016 - sexual activity with a child
Three years in jail for sexual activity with a child (2016)
Johnson was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child. The former Sunderland and England winger was released in 2019 after serving half of his sentence.
Johnson was alleged to have met up with a 15-year-old supporter in January 2015. He allegedly kissed this supporter and gave them signed football shirts, too. He was arrested in March and charged a month later.
The 36-year-old originally pled not guilty in June but changed his plea to guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming by the time his trial came in February 2016.
Johnson was found guilty by a majority verdict of 10-2 and would be incarcerated weeks later.
Joey Barton: 2008 - Assault
Two-and-a-half months in jail for assault (2008)
Barton was sentenced to six months in jail in 2008 after pleading guilty to common assault and affray, but he was released after 74 days.
He was captured on CCTV drunkenly punching one man 20 times before leaving a teenage boy with broken teeth. Barton told Men’s Health in 2022 that the time spent in jail helped him to reflect on the pattern of behaviour leading to incarceration.
He played for England (2007) Manchester City (2002 - 2007), Newcastle United (2007 - 2011), Queens Park Rangers (2011 - 2015), Olympique Marseille (2012/13), Burnley (2015/16) (2017) and Rangers (2016) before becoming a manager.
After a stint at Fleetwood Town (2018 - 2021), he took charge of Bristol Rovers (2021 - present).
Jermaine Pennant: 2005 - Driving offences
One month in jail for multiple driving offences (2005)
Pennant was jailed for three months after pleading guilty to three charges of drink-driving, driving whilst disqualified and using a vehicle without insurance.
The former Arsenal, Birmingham City and Liverpool winger was already banned from driving for 16 months the previous year, so a jail term was on the cards this time.
He was released on parole after serving a third of his sentence at HMP Woodhill. He had to wear an electronic tag for two weeks and follow an evening curfew.
Pennant’s sentence didn’t harm his football career, with Birmingham manager Steve Bruce standing by him after the sentencing. He played for 12 more years after his release.
Troy Deeney: 2012 - Affray
Three months in jail for affray (2012)
Deeney was sentenced to 10 months in prison after CCTV cameras recorded him assaulting students with three other men in 2012. The attack left one man with a broken jaw while the other needed 20 stitches.
The former Watford and Birmingham City striker pleaded guilty in court and did a third of his sentence at HMP Thorns Cross before his release.
Watford stood by him after the jail term and Deeney went on to make 419 appearances between 2010 and 2021.
Marlon King: 2009 & 2014 - Assault and Driving Offences
Nine months in jail for assault (2009)
18 months in jail for dangerous driving (2014)
King was sentenced to 18 months for sexually assaulting and physically assaulting a woman at a nightclub in 2008. He was accused of groping the woman and then breaking her nose after she rejected his advances at the Soho Revue bar.
The former Gillingham, Watford and Birmingham striker was found guilty by a 10-2 majority of sexual assault and causing actual bodily harm in 2009.
He served nine months in HMP and was sacked by Wigan Athletic before his release from jail in 2010 - one of many football players sacked by their clubs for bad behaviour.
He was also jailed in 2014 for dangerous driving, and sentenced to 18 months after causing a three-car pile-up.
Nile Ranger: 2017 - Fraud
Two-and-a-half months in jail for online banking fraud (2017)
Ranger was sentenced to eight months in prison in 2017 after admitting to online banking fraud.
The former Newcastle United, Swindon Town and Southend United striker admitted to charges of conspiracy to defraud by obtaining bank details and transferring £2,090 in February 2015.
Ranger had a bright future as a youngster at Newcastle but couldn’t stay on the straight and narrow. He was jailed as a child for street robbery, was convicted of assaulting police officers and was fined for criminal damage.
Luke McCormick: 2008 - Death by Dangerous Driving
Four years in jail for causing death by dangerous driving (2008)
Luke McCormick was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in 2008.
He was involved in a road collision that killed two other people and reportedly had excess alcohol in his blood while not being insured.
Plymouth Argyle terminated the goalkeeper’s contract as he served time in HMP Ranby and Channings Wood and Leyhill before being released in 2012.
McCormick would go on to play for Truro City (2012/13) (2021), Oxford United (2013), Plymouth (2013 - 2018) (2020 - 2022) and Swindon Town (2018 - 2020).
Lee Hughes: 2004 - Deth by Dangerous Driving
Three years in jail for causing death by dangerous driving (2004)
Hughes was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving in 2004. He was playing for West Bromwich Albion at the time, and they terminated his contract.
Hughes served his sentence at HMP before his release in 2007 and went on to play for the likes of Oldham Athletic (2007 – 2009), Blackpool (2009), Notts County (2009 - 2013), Port Vale (2013/14) and Forest Green Rovers (2014/15) along with 11 other non-league clubs until 2021.
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