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      Ex-England ace Emile Heskey facing bankruptcy in latest battle with taxman

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      FORMER England star Emile Heskey was facing bankruptcy last night in his latest battle with the taxman.The ex-Liverpool striker — whose net worth was estimated at £12million in 2009 — has had financial woes since joining a celebrity investment scheme now at the centre of a £1.6billion tax dispute.
      Emile Heskey is facing bankruptcy in his latest battle with the taxmanCredit: Getty
      The former England star has had financial woes since joining a celebrity investment schemeCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      He has been hit with a High Court bankruptcy petition filed by HMRC — setting off alarms for a string of VIPs.
      Dad-of-six Heskey, 45, was last year found to have defaulted on £92,000 of tax while working as a football development officer between 2017 and 2020.
      He was handed a £42,000 penalty.
      Meanwhile, the trendy bar he ran with wife Chantelle in posh Alderley Edge, Cheshire, was wound up by the courts with £163,000 of debts.
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      It was unclear whether the court case arrears were related to the investment scheme or his business flop.
      Heskey has recently been involved in the running of Leicester City’s women’s team and supporting the England under-18s squad.
      The tax scheme was among those run by Ingenious Media, a financing company which funded more than 60 movies.
      David Beckham, Ant and Dec and Robbie Williams are among the famous names who pumped in cash, with a minimum £50,000 stake required.
      Most read in Football
      Clients were said to have been able to claim tax relief against most of their payment.
      Other stars linked to the scheme included Liverpool greats Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher and ex-Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman.
      Gerrard and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber were among investors reported in 2019 to be suing HSBC for “dishonestly assisting” Ingenious Media.
      Take That singers Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen have already repaid £20million.
      They insisted they had paid significant tax and believed the investments were legitimate enterprises.
      But Barlow later admitting it was “the stupidest thing I have ever done”.
      HMRC and Heskey were approached for comment. More

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      Premier League star quizzed under caution over claims he racially abused worker at apartment complex

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      A PREMIER League star has been quizzed under caution over claims he racially abused an worker at an apartment complex.The move comes after The Sun on Sunday told last week that a police probe had been launched.
      A Premier League star has been quizzed under caution over claims he racially abused an worker at an apartment complex (stock picture)Credit: Getty
      A concierge worker — born in England to Senegalese-Gambian parents — said the footballer twice called him the N-word after arriving in the early hours smelling of alcohol and demanding a key.
      The alleged victim, 50, said: “I don’t follow football.
      “The development is a place with lots of very rich people.
      “It is my job to make sure the place is safe.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      “After he had gone, my colleague told me he is a famous footballer. I was shocked.
      “I felt sick to the pit of my stomach.”
      The incident reportedly occurred on December 10.
      Police said: “On Friday a man in his 30s was voluntarily interviewed.
      Most read in Football
      “He was not arrested. Inquiries continue.” More

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      Footie love rat lies about age & height on dating profile after affair with dominatrix destroyed his relationship

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      FOOTIE love-rat Jermaine Pennant has been caught offside again — fibbing about his age and height as he hunts for dates.The ex-Liverpool star, dumped by his reality TV partner for cheating with a dominatrix in May last year, says on his Hinge profile that he is 34.
      Jermaine Pennant has been caught offside yet again — with fibs spotted on a dating app profileCredit: Rex Features
      His Hinge profile states he has lost six years and gained two inchesCredit: Supplied
      But he has lost six years — he was born in January 1983 and will be 41 in nine days.
      The 5ft 8in former winger also wrongly lists his height as 5ft 10in.
      There is also no mention of his colourful personal life, including a string of broken relationships, allegations of cheating and his self-confessed reluctance to be faithful.
      A source said: “Jermaine has a cheeky side to him but lying about his age and height is not a great start when he’s trying to impress women.”
      READ MORE ON JERMAINE PENNANT
      The talkSPORT pundit is looking for dates again after we revealed last month that he had split from TV star Jess Impiazzi, 34.
      She was told by pals that he had taken the flame-haired dominatrix to his hotel room during a stag do in Ibiza.
      But he seems to have forgotten his wild ways on his Hinge profile in which he lists his simple pleasures as “sofa, movie, wine”.
      He may also be understating it a little when he asks potential hook-ups, “Don’t be boring live a little.”
      Most read in Football
      Jermaine, who has appeared on Celebrity SAS and Celebrity Big Brother, also shares a series of holiday snaps in which he is decked out in shorts, a shirt and sunglasses.
      Another sober image shows him in a smart suit and tie.
      But if anyone takes him on, they might struggle to tame one of football’s wildest spirits.
      At 15, he was sold by Notts County to Arsenal for £2million — a then-record for a trainee.
      His career never quite reached the expected heights and in 2005 he was jailed for drink-driving and played while electronically tagged.
      Off the field, he dated glamour models and actresses — but, by his own admission, struggled to remain faithful.
      In January last year, he was declared bankrupt and living in Jess’s apartment in Surrey.
      Friends hoped he was finally settling down and the couple were having fertility treatment as they tried for a baby.
      Read more on The Sun
      Jess, who appeared in Towie and Ex on The Beach, even tried to move on from his alleged stag do fling in Ibiza — but said she soon suspected he was sending flirty messages to other women and ended their two-year relationship.
      In 2022, Jermaine revealed he had ADHD, which he blamed for his impulsive actions.
      Reality star Jess Impiazzi split from Jermaine after she suspected he was sending flirty messages to other womenCredit: PA
      Jermaine previously played for LiverpoolCredit: Getty More

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      Jack Grealish burglars tried to raid mansion a month before £1m attack but were scared off

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      BURGLARS responsible for the £1million raid on Jack Grealish’s mansion were scared off by cops a month earlier, we can reveal.The gang got spooked when a police car drove past as they prepared to break in.
      BURGLARS responsible for the £1million raid on Jack Grealish’s mansion were scared off by cops a month earlier, we can revealCredit: Getty
      Sasha Attwood, pictured with Man City and England ace Jack, was in at the time of the raid and raised the alarm but the gang escaped after less than three minutesCredit: Instagram
      They first targeted the Man City midfield ace’s £5.6million mansion while he played against RB Leipzig on November 28 in the Champions League.
      But they did not know Grealish, 28, and girlfriend Sasha Attwood, 27, were yet to move in.
      They fled the scene when a police car coincidentally cruised by as they lay in wait down a quiet village lane near Knutsford, Cheshire.
      They returned on December 27, grabbing watches and gems worth £1million while Jack played in City’s 3-1 win at Everton.
      READ MORE ON THE RAID
      Sasha and members of Jack’s family were in at the time and raised the alarm but the gang escaped after less than three minutes, according to an underworld source.
      They said the burglary was carried out with the approval of a Salford gang and the stolen items will be sold in Spain.
      They added: “These lads are good at what they do. They never spend longer than a couple of minutes in a house because they automatically assume an alarm has been triggered the moment they gain entry. They don’t want to hurt or threaten anyone as they know that will increase their jail sentence if they are caught.”
      Police are probing whether the raid was an inside job linked to other targeted footie stars. The source said: “If you’re a tradesman and work for footballers, once in with one you’re in with them all as they pass them on to teammates and say, ‘Use my guy’.
      Most read in Football
      “So the police are trying to see if there is any pattern of a tradesman or particular company working at burgled properties.”
      A Cheshire Police spokesman said: “No arrests have been made at this time and enquiries are ongoing.” More

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      Ex-England captain Sol Campbell sued for more than £800k after pulling out of buying £3.85m flat

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      EX-England captain Sol Campbell is being sued for more than £800,000 after pulling out of buying a £3.85million flat.Sol, 49, and wife Fiona had put a ten per cent (£387,500) deposit down on the home in London’s swish Cadogan Square.
      Sol Campbell is being sued for more than £800,000 after pulling out of buying a multi-million pound flatCredit: Getty
      The flat’s owner Lady Jadranka Beresford-Peirse has lodged papers at the High Court which claim the pair signed a contract to buy in 2021 but failed to pay the balance due.
      Widow Lady Jadranka is seeking a total of about £810,000 in alleged losses and new sale costs.
      Ex-Spurs and Arsenal defender Sol played 73 times for England.
      Campbell then went on to manage Macclesfield Town and Southend United.
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      He married interior designer Fiona Barratt, granddaughter of Barratt Homes founder Sir Lawrie Barratt, in 2010.
      Lady Jadranka now accuses Sol and Fiona Campbell of breach of contract, saying they failed to pay the balance due for the flat, and threatened to sue them for specific performance of the contract if they failed to go ahead with the deal.
      She is seeking an order which would force them to have to buy the flat and pay her compensation.
      Lady Jadranka is seeking an order that would force him and his wife to have to buy the flat and pay her compensation.
      Most read in Football
      She claims she lost £260,000 after being unable to go ahead with her purchase of a smaller flat. More

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      Twist in probe into £1m raid on Jack Grealish’s mansion as cops fear it may have been an inside job

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      POLICE suspect a £1million raid on Jack Grealish’s mansion may have been an inside job after dozens of workmen had recently been in the property.The Three Lions star and fiancée Sasha Attwood moved in five days before Christmas after tradesmen had been finishing renovations.
      Cops suspect a £1million raid on Jack Grealish’s mansion may have been an inside jobCredit: Rex
      Grealish and fiancée Sasha Attwood moved in five days before Christmas after tradesmen had been finishing renovationsCredit: Instagram
      A source said: ‘By the time Jack’s partner and family downstairs heard what was going on and raised the alarm, they were long gone’Credit: https://www.instagram.com/jackgrealish/
      And The Sun understands police are focussing on whether thieves who broke into the £5.6million pad via an upstairs balcony could have been tipped off.
      A source said: “The crooks went straight to safes and jewellery counters.
      “By the time Jack’s partner and family downstairs heard what was going on and raised the alarm, they were long gone.
      “The thieves may have had specific details provided by eyewitnesses who had been in the home.”
      Read More on Football
      Another theory is the burglars were helped by the Man City star’s planning application for an extension, which reveals online the layout of his seven-bed home.
      The Sun revealed the lavish property in Cheshire was raided last Wednesday evening while the 28-year-old played in City’s 3-1 Prem win at Everton.
      Former Met top detective Mick Neville said cops would be “trying to establish who has had access to the property over the last few months”.
      He called for clubs to help give stars better home protection.
      Most read in Football
      City boss Pep Guardiola has urged stars not to flaunt their wealth online as it emerged Jack had worn £500,000 of different watches in recent weeks.
      Jack’s agent and Cheshire Police were approached for comment.  
      The Sun revealed that the couple’s lavish property was raided last Wednesday eveningCredit: Tim Stewart More

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      Jermain Defoe brings on-off girlfriend Alisha LeMay back into his tangled love life

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      FOOTIE pundit Jermain Defoe has brought on-off girlfriend Alisha LeMay off the bench and back into his tangled love life.The ex-England star, 41, was seen jogging with the influencer, 31, near his Herts home.
      Jermain Defoe was seen jogging with on-off girlfriend Alisha LeMay near his Herts homeCredit: Splash
      Paige Mallabourn-Edmondson moved in with the footie ace in September
      They also had a recent date at Claridge’s in London.
      In September, they looked over as Paige Mallabourn-Edmondson, 29, moved in with him.
      He had earlier split from wife Donna Tierney, 40.
      Defoe got his start in youth football, playing from 1997-1999 before moving up to senior level.
      Read More on Football
      He played professional football from 1994 until 2022 for a variety of Premier League teams.
      He began his career with Charlton Athletic, joining their youth team aged 14, before moving to West Ham United when he was 16.
      Defoe made his first team appearance for West Ham in 2000 and was then loaned to AFC Bournemouth for a season.
      He returned to West Ham, establishing himself in their lineup before the team was relegated in 2003.
      Most read in Football
      Following their relegation, Defoe moved to Tottenham Hotspur in January 2004.
      He played for Hotspur for four years before being sold to Portsmouth in January 2008.
      Donna Tierney married Jermain in June 2022 – but they split just months later More

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      Prem star ‘called apartment block concierge the N-word twice during drunken rant’ sparking police probe

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      A PREMIER League star is being investigated by police over claims he racially abused a staff member at a luxury apartment block.His alleged victim said the footballer hurled the N-word at him twice after turning up “agitated” and smelling of alcohol in the early hours.
      A Premier League star is being investigated by police over claims he racially abused a staff member at a luxury apartment block (stock picture)Credit: Getty
      His alleged victim, the concierge, said the footballer hurled the N-word at him twice
      The 50-year-old man claimed it happened when he was working as a concierge on December 10, after the player angrily demanded a key.
      He has reported his allegations to the Metropolitan Police and the player’s club, which have both confirmed a complaint has been made.
      The man was standing in as a temporary worker on reception, and said of the player: “He smelt like alcohol and was very agitated.
      “I wanted to help him.
      Read More on Football
      “I wanted to get him in.
      “But as soon as he saw me he demanded, ‘My key?’
      “I asked him, ‘Please, Sir, can you write down your name, email, address and phone number, so I can try to help.’
      “I explained I was a temp worker and I would do my best to help.
      Most read in Football
      “But my colleague, who was the supervisor, was on security patrol.
      “It was late. I could not get on the computer system.
      “The password I was given didn’t work.
      “Then he started losing his temper, telling me to give him the ‘f***ing key’.
      “Then he called me a ‘c***’.
      “I told him, ‘Wait a few minutes and my colleague will be back. He has access to the keys.’
      “Then he was swearing more at me and said, ‘Give me the key, you f***ing n*****.’
      “I draw the line at that.
      “I was appalled and disgusted.
      “I said to him, ‘I will not tolerate that.
      “Do not use that word towards me.’
      “He was shouting at me, ‘Do you know who I f***ing am? You will never work here again.’
      “He said the N-word again.”
      The concierge, who was born in England to Senegalese-Gambian parents, said he did not know who the player was at the time.
      He added: “I don’t follow football.
      “The development is a place with lots of very rich people. 
      “It is my job to make sure the place is safe. 
      “After he had gone, my colleague told me he is a famous footballer.
      “I was shocked.
      “I felt sick to the pit of my stomach.”
      The Met said: “On December 13, a 50-year-old man contacted police to report he had been racially abused by another man as he worked as a concierge.
      “There have been no arrests.
      “Enquiries continue.”
      The player’s club said: “It would be inappropriate to comment until the matter has been investigated fully by police.
      Read more on The Sun
      The player is said to deny the allegations.
      The Premier League and the clubs that play in it say they are committed to tackling all forms of discrimination, on and off the pitch. More