Former Man Utd ace Wallwork jailed in stolen cars scam

Ronnie Wallwork: Had fallen on hard times

Former Manchester United starlet Ronnie Wallwork has become the latest high-profile footballer to fall foul of the law, having been sentenced to 15 months in prison for his part in a stolen car buyer scam.

The 34-year-old - who was later one of West Bromwich Albion's highest paid players - was found guilty of selling on parts from nicked motors worth around £43,000 whilst working out of a scrapyard in Newton Heath.

After Wallwork had pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court, judge Simon Newell said: “These were high-value items that were stolen.”

“It seems to me they were taken in a professional and sophisticated way. It also seems clear to me that they were taken to go into the black market either to be sold on or broken down and sold on.”

It's not the first time that Wallwork has made the headlines from the wrong reasons.

In 1998 he received a rare life ban (later reduced on appeal) from the game for grabbing a referee by the throat while on loan to Royal Antwerp in Belgium.

Wallwork also made the news in 2006 when he was lucky to escape with his life after he was stabbed several times with a fish knife, following a violent altercation with his girlfriend's ex at a Manchester nightspot.

It was revealed in court that Wallwork had fallen on hard times since his retirement following a series of disastrous business ventures.