Former Arsenal player Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been sentenced to four years in prison for his involvement in a drug smuggling plot.
Emmanuel-Thomas was charged in September in connection with an attempt to bring £600,000 of cannabis into the UK.
His arrest was conducted by the National Crime Agency after the smuggling, which took place at London Stansted Airport.
The former forward pleaded guilty last month, and it was confirmed on Thursday at Chelmsford Crown Court that he has been jailed for four years.
A reported £60kg worth of drugs were seized at Stansted Airport.
Border Force officers found the cannabis stashed in four suitcases that had travelled from Thailand to the UK.
As per the BBC, Judge Alexander Mills said: “It is through your own actions you will no longer be known as a professional footballer, you will be known as a criminal.
“A professional footballer who threw it all away.”
Rosie Rowland and Yasmin Piotrowska were also initially charged, but these charges were dropped.
Their involvement was discontinued following analysis of Emmanuel-Thomas’ phone and the pair wept when leaving court.
More to follow…
