'We do not need this man here' - disgraced ex-Rovers player kicked out of Australia
Disgraced former Blackburn Rovers footballer Jay Hart is awaiting imminent deportation from Australia back to the UK after two Melbourne women successfully petitioned the immigration minister to boot him out of the country.
The Lancashire-born father of one was the subject of two intervention orders taken out by Sarah Fardy and Cara Greedy who both met Hart via dating apps.
The former Clitheroe FC, Rossendale United and Longridge Town striker was also convicted of multiple assaults and had another two intervention orders taken out against him by women in Melbourne.
After enduring alleged terrifying abuse, Ms Fardy and Ms Greedy started an online petition via Change.org urging Mr Burke to revoke Hart's visa.
Hart, 34, who has been living in Australia since 2020 on a student visa, most recently played for Sydenham Park Football Club in Melbourne but his registration was cancelled after Ms Fardy notified the club with claims of his obsessive and possessive behaviour.
Ms Fardy subsequently reported him to Victoria Police when she says Hart threatened self-harm.
'I told them my partner is suicidal, he's pulled a knife and he's threatening to take sleeping tablets every time I ask him to leave the house and give me some space,' she said.
In a video posted on social media, Ms Fardy broke down in tears after Hart's deportation was delivered to her personally via a phone call from Mr Burke.
Ms Fardy receiving the news from Mr Burke (Image: facebook.com/TheREDHEARTCampaign) Hart, who was at the Blackburn Rovers academy, also played for Colne, Ramsbottom United, Padiham and Nelson, before a spell in Bhutan's national football league, before migrating to Melbourne.
He is currently detained in immigration detention and will be on the next flight back to the UK.
Jay Hart when he played for Thimphu City in Bhutan (Image: Archive)
In a statement, Mr Burke said: 'Last week a brave Australian woman was in touch with my office, expressing concern about the likely threat to other women caused by the continued presence in Australia of a visa holder from the UK.'
'I have clear powers to cancel someone's visa if I believe there is a risk they will harass, molest, intimidate or stalk people in Australia.
'This government has no tolerance for the perpetrators of family and domestic violence.
'There are many good people trying to come to Australia who I already have to say no to. We do not need this man here, he can leave.'
In 2015, Hart made national headlines when he was caught having sex in the manager's dugout with a female supporter wearing his Clitheroe FC shirt following a 4-1 defeat to Mossley AFC.
He was subsequently sacked by the club and his then girlfriend and mother of two Bryony Hibbert, who hails from Oswaldtwistle, branded his shocking behaviour 'a disgusting act.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
LA Could Face Losing Millions for Police Using Nonlethal Bullets
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The City of Los Angeles could lose millions if it is sued over the Los Angeles Police Department's alleged use of rubber bullets, case history suggests. Over the past few days, there have been reports of police using rubber bullets during protests and riots in Los Angeles. If people allegedly shot by the police sue the city, they may receive payouts, as suggested by the damages awarded to plaintiffs in similar cases considered by California civil courts. There is no evidence that there has been any litigation at this point. Newsweek reached out to the LAPD and the City of Los Angeles via email for comment. Why It Matters A series of immigration raids on Friday sparked a large protest in Los Angeles over the weekend. In response to some incidents of violence and looting, President Donald Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard without California Governor Gavin Newsom's consent. The demonstrations are among the most intense wave of public opposition to federal immigration enforcement since Trump returned to office in January. What To Know As the protests have intensified, there have been reports that the LAPD is using rubber bullets against protesters. An Australian journalist was also struck. A British news photographer said that he had to undergo emergency surgery after a plastic bullet hit his thigh. In previous cases, court ordered payments to people who officers shot with rubber bullets. In March 2023, a federal jury awarded $375,000 to Deon Jones after he was shot in the face with a rubber bullet by an LAPD officer during a May 2020 protest. In May 2024, Benjamin Montemayor was awarded $1.5 million after being shot in the testicles with a foam projectile in a 2020 protest, an injury that required surgery. Protesters confront police on the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, on June 8, 2025. Protesters confront police on the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center of downtown Los Angeles, on June 8, 2025. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong What People Are Saying Matthew Mangino, a former district attorney in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, told Newsweek: "A jury verdict in a California Federal Court found the LA police's use of non-lethal bullets during a protest was 'malicious, oppressive, or in reckless disregard of' plaintiff's rights. That opens the door to federal 1983 civil rights actions for the same conduct. "The continued use of non-lethal ammunition that cause bodily injury, and in some cases serious bodily injury, is going to open the City of Los Angeles to civil liability." Patrick Wilcken, Amnesty International's researcher on Military, Security and Policing issues previously said in a report about rubber bullets: "We believe that legally-binding global controls on the manufacture and trade in less lethal weapons, including KIPs [kinetic impact projectiles], along with effective guidelines on the use of force are urgently needed to combat an escalating cycle of abuses." What Happens Next Newsom has asked the Trump administration to withdraw federal troops from Los Angeles. During a press conference on Sunday, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said that multiple people had been arrested that day.


The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
ICE protests heat up in LA
Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here It's Monday. Have you heard some people are trying to use their Costco card in place of a Real ID? This has apparently happened so much that TSA warned travelers it does not count. *nervously laughs for society* In today's issue: Los Angeles is preparing for more protests after days of demonstrations over the Trump administration's immigration raids and deportation efforts. President Trump made the extraordinary decision Sunday to deploy roughly 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, describing the demonstrations as 'violent, insurrectionist mobs.' This move by Trump caused tensions to escalate. (The last time a president sent National Guard troops against the state's governor's wishes was in 1965.) At one point Sunday, protesters blocked the 101 freeway in Los Angeles and set self-driving cars on fire. Police clashed with demonstrators, and dozens of protesters have been arrested. Law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bangs, The Associated Press reported. 📹 An Australian journalist was hit by a rubber bullet Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) bashed Trump's National Guard deployment as a 'chaotic escalation.' From Bass: 'When [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armored caravans through our streets, you cause fear and panic,' she added. 'And deployment of federalized troops on the heels of raids is a chaotic escalation.' California plans to legally fight back: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) told MSNBC that his state will sue the Trump administration over its National Guard deployment. Trump's team is fully on board with a military response: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said over the weekend that he would send active-duty Marines to respond to the protests if the situation escalates. Trump seems to agree. He posted shortly after midnight on his Truth Social account, 'Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!' 💡 For context: It would be a big deal for the White House to deploy active-duty military to control U.S. protests. The Wall Street Journal notes that 'when unrest erupted around the country in 2020, President Trump's then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper drew a line in the sand: active-duty military troops should rarely be deployed on American streets to quell protests.' 📹 Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) was denied entry to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles Watch here ➤ RELATED READ — THIS IS PERFECT FODDER FOR TRUMP: The New York Times's Tyler Pager argues that 'Trump Jumps at the Chance for a Confrontation in California Over Immigration.' Pager's reasoning: 'The situation has all the elements that the president seeks: a showdown with a top political rival in a deep blue state over an issue core to his agenda.' President Trump's 12-country travel ban went into effect at midnight. Travelers from 12 countries are now fully banned from entering the United States, and partial restrictions are in place for seven other countries. 📝 List of affected countries How does this travel ban differ from Trump's first term?: Syria and North Korea are notably missing from this list. Trump's first travel ban faced a litany of legal challenges. This time, however, his administration laid the legal groundwork with an earlier executive order. Read more on this ban differs ➤ TIDBIT — SOME HIRING TROUBLES AT DOD: The White House is having a difficult time finding qualified people who are willing to work for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, reports NBC News's Gordon Lubold, Courtney Kube and Katherine Doyle. 'Top Defense Department jobs, including the defense secretary's chief of staff, are normally considered prestigious and typically attract multiple qualified candidates. But at least three people have already turned down potential roles under Hegseth, according to a former U.S. official, the defense official and a person familiar with the matter.' NBC reports that Vice President Vance and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles are now helping to fill the positions. Read the full report Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is hoping to inject fresh momentum on President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' as Republicans' self-imposed July 4 deadline nears. What is Thune's plan? Delegate.: Thune is convening small working groups to find solutions to Republicans' objections within the bill, reports The Hill's Alexander Bolton. No Democrat is expected to vote 'yes' on the bill, so Republicans can only afford three defections for it to still pass. Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) told colleagues last week that there are already two likely GOP 'no' votes. Thune told The Hill he's still eyeing Trump's July 4 deadline, even though he privately told his colleagues earlier this year that August recess feels more realistic deadline. Read Bolton's reporting: 'Republicans look for reset on Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'' ➤ WHAT'S HAPPENING ON CAPITOL HILL THIS WEEK?: The House will attempt to codify Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts, which would rescind $9.4 billion in federal funding. What interesting timing after Trump and Musk's messy breakup last week … The House will also vote on a bill to categorize fentanyl as Schedule I in the Controlled Substances Act. 🔎Read The Hill's Mychael Schnell's primer of what's happening in Congress this week, including a list of key hearings. 'Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, 22, and several allies were taken into Israeli custody in international waters early Monday while attempting to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza, which faces a food crisis amid Hamas's ongoing war with Israel,' reports The Hill's Elizabeth Crisp. The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST) 2 p.m.: Trump participates in an Invest America Roundtable. 💻 Livestream2 p.m.: The Secret Service gives a briefing on the logistics for this weekend's military parade. 💻Livestream5:30 p.m.: Two Senate votes are expected. 📆Today's agenda6:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. 📆Today's agendaSaturday: The military parade in Washington. 🍓 Celebrate: Today is National Strawberry Rhubarb Day. 🦓 *Cue 'Defying Gravity': A runaway zebra was rescued after a week on the run. It was dramatically airlifted dangling from a helicopter. The video is all over the internet for obvious reasons. 📹 Watch 🎤 The original 'Hamilton' cast performed!: The original cast of the smash Broadway hit 'Hamilton' 📹performed at the Tony Awards. THEY'RE SO GOOD. Oh, and Cynthia Erivo gave Oprah Winfrey a gift. 📹 Watch the clip And to hopefully leave you in a good mood, watch this solution to a turtle getting lost.


USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Australian journalist shot with nonlethal bullet while reporting on LA protests
Australian journalist shot with nonlethal bullet while reporting on LA protests Show Caption Hide Caption Australian journalist shot with a rubber bullet in Los Angeles Australian journalist from 9News, Lauren Tomasi, was shot with a rubber bullet while reporting from the protests in Los Angeles. An Australian journalist was shot with a rubber bullet by an officer while covering protests in Los Angeles over the weekend, according to her media outlet. Lauren Tomasi, a U.S. national correspondent for Australia's 9News, was shot in the leg by a rubber bullet while reporting on the immigration raids and ensuing protests in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, the network reported. Video captured by 9News shows a nearby armed police officer aiming a weapon at Tomasi before firing, striking the back of her left leg. Tomasi is heard yelling out in pain as the camera pans away. 9News reported that Tomasi is sore but otherwise unharmed from the incident. Only about an hour before, Tomasi had been caught in a group of protesters while covering the raids. Exploding flashbang grenades can be heard as Tomasi conducts a live shot before protesters begin yelling at her and grabbing the camera she is talking into. Live updates: Gov. Newsom challenges Trump on National Guard deployment What is happening in Los Angeles? Thousands of people began to gather in Los Angeles on Friday, June 6 to protest President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement operations. Small protests throughout the city have mounted to large demonstrations and some destructive clashes between officers and protesters. Local police and hundreds of National Guard troops were deployed to the city over the weekend. Authorities declared several of demonstrations on Sunday as "unlawful assemblies" and began firing flash bang and tear gas grenades into large groups of protesters. California's 101 Freeway has been blocked by protesters and several vehicles have been set on fire during the protests. Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have continued to spar on the raids, especially after the president sent National Guard troops to the city. "Let's get this straight: 1) Local law enforcement didn't need help. 2) Trump sent troops anyway − to manufacture chaos and violence. 3) Trump succeeded," Newsom said in a X post. "4) Now things are destabilized and we need to send in more law enforcement just to clean up Trump's mess." On the other hand, Trump said in a Truth Social post on June 8 that Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass should "apologize to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job that they have done, and this now includes the ongoing L.A. riots. These are not protesters, they are troublemakers and insurrectionists." Contributing: John Bacon, Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@