Ex-Northwich Victoria owner Jim Rushe to serve time in prison after court case

FORMER Northwich Victoria owner Jim Rushe will spend “a long time” in prison after being found guilty of conspiring to supply class A drugs.

Rushe, 54, whose son Martin is the club’s solitary shareholder, was standing trial alongside co-defendants Mark Fishwick and Andrew Fetherston accused of conspiracy to supply cocaine with all three men denying the charge,

However, Rushe and Fishwick were found guilty on Thursday and will be sentenced on May 6 with the judge telling the pair they would face a custodial sentence, reports the Northwich Guardian.

Recorder Simon Medland QC said: “You have been convicted by the jury of a mightily serious offence and one which means I will send you both to prison for a long time.”

Meanwhile, current Vics player Gary Burnett was given a four month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, after being found guilty of contempt of court.

He was caught tweeting about playing football just 24 hours after making an insurance claim for whiplash following an accident at a McDonald’s drive-thru in October 2013.

The striker, who left for Curzon Ashton before returning to the Vics, claimed he suffered injuries to his neck and back which left him unable to play.

Just a day after the incident, he was caught tweeting “nice little trek to Kendal later for footy” and he weeks later posted about scoring in an FA Trophy game.

He had already been ordered to pay costs of more than £11,000 by Wigan County Court to insurer Aviva after it was ruled his claim was fundamentally dishonest in July 2015.