Ex-Kelty footballer Jordon Forster admits court charges

Jordon Forster, 29, repeatedly turned up at the home and workplace of his girlfriend and accessed her phone without permission.

Forster – who also previously played for Hibernian – shouted, swore and called the woman derogatory names during seven months of domestic abuse.

The defender also admitted to causing the woman fear and alarm by acting aggressively towards her on several occasions during their relationship between May and December last year.

Jordon Forster signed for Kelty Hearts in the summer of 2021. His last game for the club was in January. (Image: Newsquest)

Forster, from Gorebridge, Midlothian, pleaded guilty to an amended domestic abuse charge when he appeared in the dock at Edinburgh Sheriff Court this week.

Fiscal depute Klaudia Wasilewska told the court that the woman was in favour of a non-harassment order which would ban the footballer from contacting or approaching her over the course of the order.

Ms Wasilewska said that the Crown would be preparing a written narrative into the circumstances which would be read out at the sentencing hearing next month.

Court papers state that Forster caused damage to a door and a wall at his home and on one occasion he seized the woman by the arm, restrained her and threw her on a bed.

The footballer also pushed the woman and carried her up a set of stairs at his property.

He had not guilty pleas accepted by the Crown to biting the woman on the body, repeatedly seizing her and throwing her against a wall and onto a bed.

READ MORE: Man drove car into Lochgelly house and set it on fire

Forster’s not guilty plea to throwing a shoe at the woman on one occasion during the period of abuse was also accepted by the Crown.

Sheriff Kenneth Campbell KC released him on bail and deferred sentence to next month.

The sheriff also said he would consider the imposition of the non-harassment order at the next calling of the case.

Forster signed for Kelty Hearts in the summer of 2021, having previously been with Dundee, and, in his first season, helped the club win the SPFL League Two title in their maiden season at that level.

The central defender made 57 appearances overall for Kelty, but his last came on January 14 and he left during the close season following the expiration of his contract.

Forster – who played 79 times for Hibs between 2012 and 2017, and had loan spells with Berwick Rangers, East Fife and Plymouth Argyle before moving on to play for Cheltenham Town and Dundee – signed for Lowland League club, Tranent Juniors, this summer.

READ MORE: Vandals target Kelty Hearts ground

Tranent initially issued a statement saying that whilst they deplored any and all forms of domestic abuse, the club also believed in the value of rehabilitation, and that "we are encouraging and assisting Jordon with his reformation".

However, yesterday (Thursday), Tranent reversed that decision and issued a further statement confirming the contract of Jordon Forster had been terminated with immediate effect.

A spokesperson for the club said: “As a board, we have made a mistake and we apologise to the victim, our fans, the local community and to the wider sporting world for any offence caused, this was never our intention.

“We are a club committed to doing the absolute best we can and we clearly got this wrong. We will endeavour to do better going forward.”