Marcus Bent was high on cocaine and very paranoid.
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This tweet is more straightforward than it seems.
BREAKING: Marcus Bent given 12-month suspended sentence for attacking police with a meat cleaver while under the influence cocaine. #SSNHQ
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) February 12, 2016
Bent is a 37-year-old striker who made 215 English Premier League appearances, including with Leicester City and Everton. His professional career ended in 2012.
Last fall, he ran into some trouble; by his own account, he did "two or three lines" cocaine, became extremely paranoid, thought he heard someone in his home, called the police and then, naturally, freaked out on the police when they showed up. There was no intruder.
Since he waved a knife and, yes, a meat cleaver at them, they tasered him. And now, here we are.
Bent received a 12-month suspended sentence, a two-month curfew and community service. His lawyer said he's no longer using drugs.