Ex-Arsenal academy star, 22, whose career was wrecked by injury stole woman’s American Express card as she slept in their luxury hotel room and ran up £3,700 bill, court told
- Jaydon Thorbourne trained with Arsenal and had a spell with Crystal Palace
- Thorbourne admitted one count of fraud by false representation
- He was jailed for 26 weeks and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £122
A former Arsenal academy prospect stole a woman’s American Express card as she slept in their luxury hotel room and ran up a £3,700 bill, a court heard.
Jaydon Roshai Thorbourne, 22, was desperate to keep up his lavish lifestyle after his career was wrecked by injury.
The talented left back helped himself to his un-named victim’s bank card after she spent the night with him at the four star Dorsett City Hotel in Aldgate, central London on Saturday.
Thorbourne committed the offence just days after he was released from jail for breaching a suspended sentence for similar offences, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
The court heard how Jaydon Roshai Thorbourne, 22, was desperate to keep up his lavish lifestyle after his career was wrecked by injury
Prosecutor Jennifer Fadaka said: ‘He got involved with this lady.
‘She fell asleep in the room and the defendant took her bank card.
‘The American Express card was used by the defendant for two transactions subsequently, totaling £3,717.58.’
According to the website UKfootballtrials.com Thorbourne regularly trained with Arsenal as an 18-year-old alongside Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott.
After being released from Arsenal he had a spell at Crystal Palace, which included u21’s appearances.
Defending, Hariett Benson said Thorbourne was ‘used to a certain lifestyle’ and carried out the offences after losing his career in a bid to ‘live a false life’.
She said: ‘He had a successful career as a footballer, he got used to a certain lifestyle and that came to an end when he sustained an injury.
‘The defendant has got a serious issue that has to be addressed. All his offences are of similar nature.’
Ms Benson said Thorbourne developed a gambling habit after his career came to an end and asked District Judge Vanessa Baraitser to give him a chance to ‘resuscitate his career’.
The talented left back helped himself to his un-named victim’s bank card after she spent the night with him at the four star Dorsett City Hotel in Aldgate, central London on Saturday
She said: ‘Gambling is part of living a false life.
‘He has an addiction that needs to be addressed.
‘He needs to seek help. He needs some sort of counselling.
‘He had an offer for a football team in the Netherlands but he lost that because he went back to prison.
‘The easier option is to send him back to prison again. However, it does not get to the root of his problem.’
The barrister asked the judge to give him a chance to resuscitate his career.’
Thorbourne, of Hornsey, north London, admitted one count of fraud by false representation and was jailed for 26 weeks
But District Judge Baraitser told Therbourne: ‘This is an extremely unpleasant offence.
‘You spent a night together and took advantage of her.
‘You have been given numerous chances. You refused to take advantage of those changes.’
Thorbourne, of Hornsey, north London, admitted one count of fraud by false representation and was jailed for 26 weeks.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £122.