Former EFL and non league gamer James Hurst gets a 2 year custodial sentence after bugging his ex-girlfriend and her household.

As per Carl Jackson, a Court Reporter for Birmingham Mail, a bitter row associating with his kid saw Hurst ‘bombarding’ his previous ex with violent calls, texts and e-mails.

Prosecutor Maninder Chaggar stated that he and his ex had actually been together up until November 2023, when they broke up. They have a kid together, and topic of ‘long and protracted’ kid plan procedures in the household court.

But she stated that Hurst had actually been ‘unhappy’ with the regards to a court order which led to a variety of ‘very serious incidents’.

Just recently, Birmingham Crown Court verified the 32 years of age was guilty of stalking, 2 counts of harassment, 2 counts of sending out incorrect interactions and one offense of breaching a non-molestation order.

Hurst, who played last bet Northern Premier League Premier Division side Ilkeston Town, has actually been kept in HMP Birmingham. He appeared in court by means of video link recently and after that represented himself today.

Former WBA and Blues gamer imprisoned over ‘obsessive’ harassment of ex https://t.co/r12QYzu8dQ

— Black Country Live (@blackcountry) July 31, 2024

Hurst was reported to have actually made ‘false’ allegations concerning her brother-in-law’s farm company in a Tripadvisor evaluation, stating a kid had actually been assaulted by an animal.

In January, Hurst sent out ‘unwanted messages’ to her brother-in-law, ‘offering him money to facilitate contact’ with his kid. The brother-in-law decreased the deal, however Hurst continued by alerting him that he would be ‘knocking on your doors’ if he stopped working to react to his messages.

The district attorney included: “He took to Tripadvisor and left a false review in relation to his business. He gave a false review in relation to the staff and stated an incident took place on the farm involving an animal which attacked a child, which was false. It had a traumatic impact on [the brother-in-law].”

He likewise made numerous counter allegations versus his ex, declaring that she had physically mistreated him and taken cash from his account.

He argued that it would not remain in the general public’s interest to send him to prison, feeling that media protection would adversely affect his profession, of which he felt remained in the ‘twilight’ phase.

Hurst stated: “Continued custody would end my profession at my age. I have a deal from a club, I won’t call, all set to sign me just if I’m launched before the season begins.

“I’m nearing the twilight of my career. I have sought help from the Professional Football Association (PFA) in relation to transitioning into a non-sporting job. I have found it difficult.”

He utilizes and prepared to utilized a JCB automobile in the future, having actually likewise remained in the last year of an Open University degree course studying politics and economics.

He included: “I made my Premier League debut for West Bromwich Albion in 2011 and have made 350 appearances for various clubs, I will be signed by another club immediately on my release. I am at the twilight of my footballing career and any custodial sentence will end it for good.”

However as pointed out, simply recently, had actually formerly pleaded guilty to stalking without damage, 2 counts of harassment without violence, 2 offenses of sending out incorrect interaction with the intent to trigger damage, and one charge of breaching a non-molestation order.

Now he had actually been struck with a two-year custodial sentence and a 5 year limiting order with Prosecutor Harminder Jagger explained how Hurst sent out 500 undesirable call, text and e-mails to his ex-partner, her mom and her brother-in-law considering that they separated.

“On January 11, his ex-partner felt she had no alternative to go to Chesterfield Family Court and acquired a none-molestation order which worked up until January 2025. However, the accused then started to send out messages to his ex-partner’s mom who had actually been functioning as a go-in between between the 2.

“They were controlling in nature and even sent a card saying he “was watching her like a hawk” which resulted in her setting up cams outside her home.”

She went on to state: “He then sent messages and emails calling her stupid and ‘she had the devil in the soul’. There were days where the complainant would receive up to 50 calls a day.”

Hurst remained in the UAE and Bali, going through psychological health treatment for anxiety, for the very first 3 months of 2024 when he sent them, he nevertheless confessed he “had sent them under the influence of alcohol.”

Shropshire Star report that he offered the judge “18 reasons why I should not get a custodial sentence”, as one of which pointed out about how he had a deal of a brand-new agreement at a brand-new unnamed club.

He likewise had favorable character referrals from his previous fans and partners. But Judge Roderick Henderson stated : “Though I accept in relation to previous relationships he has actually acted kindly and supportively after they had actually broken down. But the accused revealed obsessiveness in this scenario.

“I have considered whether I could suspend this sentence, in which he articulately asked for in his submissions, but these offences do pass the custody threshold. The frequency and seriousness of this offending leads to a custodial sentence as court orders need to be followed and ex-partners and their family need to be protected. I see no other way to sending the message home to this defendant that his behaviour cannot mean the sentence be suspended.”

She stated he had actually revealed an ‘obsessive attitude’ and included: “Only immediate custody will serve to demonstrate that court orders need to be followed and ex partners and their family need to be protected. I see no other way of sending the message home to this defendant than imposing an immediate sentence.”

The harassment charge connects to a time period in between December 2023 to June 2024, in which Hurst was nabbed, when on the 9th of December, he was ‘aggressive and verbally abusive’ towards his ex, in addition to devoting a ‘minor assault’ versus her and triggering damage to her wing mirror when she showed up to get their kid from his location.

A non-molestation order prohibiting contact was provided to James and his ex in January however ‘regrettably Mr Hurst didn’t hearken the caution’ with it heard that he beginning sending his ex sweetheart’s mom ‘controlling and aggressive’ messages.

He continued to send out threatening to show up at her address, and to send out texts in addition to make call to his ex.

She explained the contact as ‘abusive in nature’ with one message heard, James stating that she ‘had the devil in her soul’, called her a ‘weirdo’ and a ‘pyscho’, with court Hurst likewise asking his ex who she was sleeping with and if she wished to see his penis.

He was apprehended at an airport in June 2024 having actually simply returned from vacation and was consequently kept at HMP Birmingham on remand approximately his sentencing hearing in July 2024.

In a victim effect declaration, Hurst’s ex stated: “I am frightened after the remarks from him. He stated I reside in a field with no-one around. He is unhinged. He does not listen about the law. I go to sleep afraid, I fret he will show up and take our kid. I understand he has actually been abroad, he remained in Bali, however when I do not speak with him I am frightened he is taking a trip to me.

“Her mom and brother-in-law have actually likewise made declarations worrying how afraid they are.

“The defendant is 32 and has nine previous convictions for 19 offensives of similar threatening actions.”

Defending himself, Hurst stated to the court: “I am a survivor of domestic abuse concerning my ex-partner. I did not know about the none-molestation order until I was arrested at the airport. I apologise for my actions under the influence of alcohol sending messages and cards from abroad. I was only trying to discuss the welfare of my son. References from my all ex-partners have something good to say.”

He declared that his ex ‘physically and mentally’ abused him and even pressed him into altering his surname by Deed Poll to hers.

Of a variety of supposed occurrences, he implicated his ex of chucking his luggage off a terrace whilst on a vacation in Spain, she abused him 5 times in two days at a Centre Parcs, and declares she took approximately £2,000 out of his checking account which he mentioned was being examined independently.

Hurst insisted he just connected with his previous partner to examine how their kid was, however accepted it had actually been ‘foolish’ and was ‘indescribable sadness’ with his contact with the kid being limited, so flew out on a vacation to the United Arab Emirates and entered into into a psychological health retreat in Indonesia.

James informs court that while he explained himself as ‘impatient and frustrated’, he did be sorry for and state sorry for messages he sent out whilst abroad including that they were ‘shamefully under the influence of alcohol’. He did nevertheless state he was not conscious the non-molestation order had actually been enforced up until his arrest.

He has actually formerly suffered concerns in his playing profession. In 2014, Torquay decided to suspend him from all football activities pending an examination over a supposed occurrence on a night out in 2015, then got sent on loan to Guiseley.

He signed up with Telford in 2016, and after getting a red card in a match versus Salford, he was associated with an argument with fans on social networks, this then saw him get suspended by the club and a investigation into his behaviour, consequently being transfer-listed and fined 2 weeks incomes.

Back in 2018, he as soon as informed authorities that he’s a “I’m a millionaire”, “I’m a star”, and informed the officer to ‘Google’ him when founded guilty of drink-driving and being intoxicated and disorderly in Wrexham, including he’d “take the ban and pay the fine. I don’t give a f***”.

Then in June 2020, he was remanded in custody by a court in Glasgow after pleading guilty to acting in a threatening or violent way towards policeman following a domestic occurrence; he coughed in officers’ faces, informed them he had Covid, utilized negative language to explain a female policeman and yelled anti-Scottish abuse. He was sentenced to 160 hours overdue social work.

HURST’S PROFESSION:

Youth
2001–2008 – West Bromwich Albion

Senior
2008–2010 – Portsmouth
2010 → ÍBV (loan) – 17 video games (1 objective)
2010–2013 – West Bromwich Albion – 3 video game (0 objectives)
2011 → Blackpool (loan) – 2 video games (0 objectives)
2011–2012 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) – 9 video games (0 objectives)
2012 → Chesterfield (loan) – 13 video games (0 objectives)
2012 → Birmingham City (loan) – 3 video games (0 objectives)
2013 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) – 4 video games (0 objectives)
2013 – Valur – 8 video games (2 objectives)
2013–2014 – Crawley Town – 21 video games (0)
2014 → Northampton Town (loan) – 1 video game (0 objectives)
2014 – Valur – 9 video games (0 objectives)
2014–2015 – Hednesford Town – 35 video games (3 objectives)
2015–2016 – Torquay United – 17 video games (7 objectives)
2015–2016 → Guiseley (loan) – 21 video games (4 objectives)
2016–2017 – AFC Telford United – 14 video games (0 objectives)
2017 – Dover Athletic – 14 video games (0 objectives)
2017–2018 – Wrexham – 19 video games (0 objectives)
2018 – Nuneaton Borough – 5 video games (0 objectives)
2018 – Welling United – 3 video games (0 objectives)
2018–2019 – Sutton Coldfield Town
2019–2020 – Hednesford Town – 16 video games (1 objective)
2020–2022 – Buxton – 24 video games (2 objectives)
2022–2023 – Tamworth – 21 video games (5 objectives)
2023– Ilkeston Town

International
2007 – England U16 – 2 video games (0 objectives)
2008–2009 – England U17 – 12 video games (0 objectives)
2011 – England U19 – 5 video games (0 objectives)
2011 – England U20 – 1 video game (0 objectives)