Former Bantam Lee Hendrie was declared bankrupt today after failing to repay a debt of more than £200,000.

A petition for bankruptcy was brought against the ex-England and Aston Villa midfielder by HM Revenue and Customs on December 19, the High Court was told.

The 34-year-old, who did not attend the hearing in London, owed a total of £235,808.73.

Mrs Registrar Derrett heard that there had been no contact from Hendrie, no letters had been returned and no payments made.

She said she was making the bankruptcy order “in the absence of any contact”.

Hendrie, who has also played for Sheffield United, Leicester and Blackpool and is now signed with Kidderminster Harriers, reportedly earned £24,000 a week at the height of his career.

Hendrie enjoyed a spell at Valley Parade under Peter Taylor but left at the end of 2010 as the club could not afford to keep him on.

The former Premier League player, who won his only England cap in 1998, has homes in Solihull, West Midlands, and Rowington, Warwickshire.

He was signed for Bandung FC in Indonesia last year on a two-year contract but returned before the end of 2011.