I gave Willie £25k to save him from bet debt heavies

HEARN: HE BEGGED ME

- DAVID O'DORNAN

TRAGIC snooker player Willie Thorne was being hounded by loan sharks in the years prior to his death.

The star had got himself in hock to heavies after racking up gambling debts.

Sports promoter Barry Hearn revealed Willie pleaded with him for help, so he gave him £25,000 to pay them off.

The 73-year-old, inset, said: "He came to see me about helping him out in 2017 when he explained he had serious problems with some heavy-handed people that wanted paying.