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Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ex-SPFL star JAILED after admitting involvement in plot to smuggle £600,000 of drugs into UK
He was sacked by his club when the shocking situation emerged BEHIND BARS Ex-SPFL star JAILED after admitting involvement in plot to smuggle £600,000 of drugs into UK A former Scottish Premiership star has been jailed after admitting his role in a £600,000 drugs plot. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was arrested after two suitcases were seized at Stansted Airport. 4 Jay Emmanuel-Thomas pleaded guilty Credit: PA 4 The striker was playing for Morton at the time of his arrest Credit: Kenny Ramsay 4 He had an unfruitful spell at Aberdeen Credit: Getty 4 He came through the youth ranks at Arsenal Credit: PA:Empics Sport 60kg of cannabis was found in the cases that had arrived from Thailand. Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, was playing for Morton at the time of his arrest in September last year. He was subsequently sacked by the Championship club. Last month, he pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court to fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of cannabis between July 1, 2024 and September 2, 2024. He was remanded in custody and was sentenced today. Emmanuel-Thomas has been jailed for four years. Judge Alexander Mills told the striker: "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." London-born Emmanuel-Thomas came through the academy system at Arsenal. He made it all the way to the first team and appeared in the Premier League. After a series of loan spells, Emmanuel-Thomas enjoyed spells with Ipswich, Bristol City and QPR. He had a spell abroad before joining Livingston in 2020. Emmanuel-Thomas, nicknamed JET, impressed and earned a move to Aberdeen. However, he couldn't replicate his success at Pittodrie and left after less than a year. He failed to score a league goal for the Dons. Emmanuel-Thomas returned to Scotland on a short-term deal in July 2024 before being sacked in mid-September after being charged over his role in the drugs plot. The court heard that the drugs were brought into the UK by the striker's girlfriend, Yasmin Piotrowski. She and Rosie Rowland had flown business class to Stansted on September 2. Emmanuel-Thomas was linked to the discovery by WhatsApp messages, voice notes and pictures. The court was told it was "apparent" he had recruited the women, who were cleared after prosecutors offered no evidence in their case. Emmanuel-Thomas had offered the women £2,500 plus a free holiday to Thailand. After Piotrowska was stopped by border officials, Emmanuel-Thomas messaged Rowland to tell her to "delete everything from our chat if you can". The footballer then travelled to East London on September 5 and replaced his mobile phone. He was dismissed by Morton a couple of weeks later when the situation came to light. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
24-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Ex-SPFL star jailed for killing cyclist in horror crash with his own daughter in his car
His victim's wife has told of the agony SMASH HORROR Ex-SPFL star jailed for killing cyclist in horror crash with his own daughter in his car Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER SPFL footballer has been jailed after killing a cyclist by ploughing into him in his Mercedes while his kids were in the car. Mansfield Town ace Lucas Akins, 36, was driving his Mercedes G350 near Huddersfield when he hit 33-year-old Adrian Daniel. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Mansfield Town player Lucas Akins (right) arriving at Leeds Crown Court Credit: PA 5 Cyclist Adrian Daniel died after he was hit by Mansfield Town player Lucas Akins Credit: PA 5 Mansfield Town player Lucas Akins arriving at Leeds Crown Court. Credit: PA He previously spent two seasons on the books at Hamilton Accies in the late noughties, also spending part of the time on loan at Partick Thistle. The cyclist was rushed to hospital with serious injuries but couldn't be saved - dying ten days later on March 27, 2022. Akins has now been jailed for a total of 14 months after admitting causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving. Savanna Daniel, Adrian's wife, told the court how her life was "changed forever" following the dad's death. She said she was alerted to the tragedy by a computer on his bike that automatically contacted her as she was Adrian's emergency contact. Savanna said she went to the scene before Adrian was taken to hospital where he sadly died 11 days later. She added: "I was told the adrenaline junkie I knew and loved wasn't coming back. On Sunday 27th, Adrian passed. "Since that day, it has been like hell and a nightmare I'm not waking up from. "I know it's happened, I'm not living in a fairytale but it was avoidable. "I was unable to talk about Adrian without falling apart. I was angry with him for leaving us. Hamilton Accies fans chant 'Sack The Board' as club learn relegation fate after Queen's Park draw "I was angry because there was no reason for Adrian to leave us that day. This was too simple a collision to take his life." Leeds Crown Court was told the horror unfolded on March 17, 2022, as Adrian had cycled in the village of Netherton. Akins was taking his young daughter to a piano class along with his seven-month-old baby when he approached a junction. Prosecutor Carmel Pearson said: "Traffic is obliged to give way at Huddersfield Road, which is what the defendant should have done. "He intended to turn right into Huddersfield Road. "The defendant didn't give way at a give way sign. "There is no stop sign or white line at that junction but there is an obligation to give way. "The defendant on the footage, albeit was driving slowly, pulled out at the give way junction and struck Adrian Daniel. 5 Akins action for Hamilton during the 2007-08 season Credit: Kenneth Ramsay 5 Mansfield Town star Lucas Akins who has been jailed for 14 months Credit: PA "It was too late for Adrian Daniel to brake and he suffered a catastrophic head injury." The court was told that Akins had knowledge of the road so should have known to give way at the junction. In his police interview, the footballer said he did not see the cyclist. Along with his jail term, Akins was also banned from driving for two years. Sentencing, Judge Alexander Menary told the footballer: "You failed to see Mr Daniel and you drove into collision with him. "The impact was devastating and he was thrown from his bicycle. "It was apparent to the emergency workers that he had sustained grave injuries." Just hours after Akins pleaded guilty to the offence last month, he took to the pitch for Mansfield Town in a 0-0 draw vs Wigan. Manager Nigel Clough later discussed his decision to include Akins in his team, saying: "We've known about it for some time, it's not just happened but we're not in a position to comment." The striker came through the youth academy at Huddersfield and made his debut for them in 2007. In addition to his time at Hamilton and Partick, he had stints at Northwich Victoria, Tranmere Rovers and Stevenage. Akins had eight years at Burton Albion before he joined Mansfield in January 2022. He has made four international appearances for Caribbean nation Grenada, who he qualifies for through his mum. Mansfield Town today said it was "considering its position" after news of Akins' imprisonment. A spokesman said: "Mansfield Town Football Club acknowledges today's decision by Leeds Crown Court concerning Lucas Akins following a tragic road traffic accident in March 2022. "Mansfield Town Football Club offers its sincere and deepest condolences to the family of Adrian Daniel at this difficult time. "The club is considering its position with regards to Lucas and will be making no further comment at this stage." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
