Footballer went from Premier League to crime shame in two years
A former footballer descended from a Premier League career to breaking up stolen car parts in a rented scrapyard unit in just two years, Preston Crown Court heard yesterday. Police stumbled upon the operation of Ronnie Wallwork, 34, while investigating unconnected armed robberies.
One suspect was tracked to a scrapyard in Manchester where Wallwork came to the attention of the authorities in 2010. Earlier this year Wallwork, from Failsworth, admitted three counts of receiving stolen goods but the full facts only emerged yesterday when his best friend, Siobhan Johnstone, was cleared of three counts of handling stolen goods. A Mazda involved in those charges was stolen from Harrogate.
Wallwork joined Manchester United as a trainee in 1993 but was loaned to a number of clubs before he joined West Bromwich Albion in 2002.
Loan periods at Bradford City, Barnsley and Huddersfield Town followed before he moved to Sheffield Wednesday in 2008 where he made just seven appearances.
Wallwork will be sentenced on December 5.