Former Premier League footballer Marcus Bent denies charges of affray and possessing a meat cleaver

• Marcus Bent appeared in Guildford Crown Court facing four charges
• Former striker denied charges of affray and possessing bladed articles
• The 37-year-old is also charged with possession of class A drugs 

By Jack Backwell

Published: 11:58 EST, 23 October 2015 | Updated: 15:49 EST, 23 October 2015

Ex-Premier League footballer Marcus Bent denied possessing bladed articles on Friday when he appeared before a judge following an incident when police were called to his home last month and Tasered him.

The 37-year-old stood before Judge Stephen Climie at Guildford Crown Court charged with possessing a class A drug, namely cocaine, and a further two counts of possessing a bladed article in public, and one count of affray.

Bent, dressed in slim navy suit and tie, denied possessing a meat cleaver and a knife when he was arrested at his home on Claremont Hill in Esher, Surrey, on September 13 this year. 

Former Premier League footballer Marcus Bent leaves Magistrates Court with his partner (left) last month

Former striker Bent leaves Staines Magistrates Court with his partner in September

The former Everton striker, whose partner waited for him in the public gallery as he entered his pleas, also denied affray.

Bent was bailed to appear at the same court on January 13 2016. 

Bent was Tasered by police officers responding to calls of a break-in at his flat, after he rushed out the front door with a knife and a meat cleaver, a magistrates court heard last month.

Bent allegedly raised the cleaver at an officer, prompting a colleague to use the stun gun on him as he was worried the policeman was going to be 'chopped', magistrates were told.

The ex-England Under 21 international who played for 14 clubs during his career, had called police to his flat after shutting himself in the bathroom to escape from intruders who had broken in, the court heard on September 30.

The 37-year-old denied charges of affray and possession of the knife - described by police as being 15 inches long - and the cleaver.

Bent pictured leaving court in September (left) and during his days playing for Everton in the Premier League

Bent, who was supported by his partner and a friend at court, however admitted a charge of possessing cocaine during the hearing. 

Darren Matravers, prosecuting, told the court: 'On September 13 of this year at around 9:30pm that night, the police received a 999 call from the defendant. He was reporting that intruders had broken into his flat and that he had locked himself in his bathroom, seeking protection.

'He went on to say the intruders were trying to get into the bathroom - they were pulling on the door.

'A few minutes later officers arrived at the address. They were buzzed-in by another resident (in the block of flats).

Bent played for 14 different club during his career, including two years at Charlton (pictured

'They knocked on the door of the defendant's flat, telling him to open the door. A number of officers were present.

'The defendant rushed out of the flat. He was holding a knife in one hand and a meat cleaver in the other hand.

'One of the officers describes the knife as a 15-inch chef's knife, in his right hand. He says he had a large meat cleaver in his left hand.

'He raised it towards another officer's head and neck area. He believed he was going to chop the other officer with the cleaver. The officer deployed his Taser and the defendant fell to the floor as a consequence.

'It's the Crown's case he rushed from his flat holding two weapons, targeting those weapons towards the attending police officers and had to be Tasered as a consequence.'

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