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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ex-Arsenal star sentenced last month for part in £600k drug smuggling plot signs for new team
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, a product of the Arsenal academy, was sentenced to four years in prison last month for his part in a £600k drug smuggling plot - but is already back in the game Disgraced former Arsenal footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is back in the game, just one month after being jailed for four years. The 34-year-old was sentenced in June for his part in a £600,000 drug smuggling plot in what was described as a 'catastrophic error of judgement'. Emmanuel-Thomas was sacked by Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton after his arrest in September last year. The former Arsenal academy product initially denied the charges but changed his plea to guilty at a hearing on May 7 at Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex. After being found guilty, he was handed a four-year prison sentence, but subsequently released on parole having served 10 months of his sentence at HMP Chelmsford. National League South side AFC Totton have now confirmed his signature ahead of the new season with a brief statement reading: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to the club. Jay joins us with a wealth of experience in the Championship and we're sure his goals will lead to a successful season here on the South Coast!" Emmanuel-Thomas was arrested after officers from the National Crime Agency seized an estimated £600,000 of cannabis as it was being brought through Stansted Airport by two women he had recruited – his girlfriend and her friend. Prosecutor David Josse KC told Chelmsford Crown Court the 'interception' of the two women – Emmanuel-Thomas's girlfriend Yasmin Piotrowska and her friend Rosie Rowland – happened at the airport. He said it 'became apparent this defendant, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, had been involved in their recruitment to travel to Thailand'. Before handing down the sentence, 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." The footballer, whose former clubs include Ipswich, Bristol City, QPR, Livingston, Aberdeen and Thai side PTT Rayong, was sentenced at the start of June. Alex Rose, for Emmanuel-Thomas, said: 'The financial gain in this case for Mr Emmanuel-Thomas was £5,000.' Mr Rose said the defendant was a father-of-two and had made a 'catastrophic error of judgment'. He said a 'period of being out of contract led to very significant financial hard times' and he 'succumbed to temptation'. In a letter read out in court before his sentencing, Emmanuel Thomas wrote: "This past year has been the most harmful and eye-opening of my life. At times it has been unbearable." He added that he "never imagined" he could be in this situation, and he "completely regrets but takes full responsibility for" his actions.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over £600k cannabis plot signs for new club after release from prison
A FORMER Arsenal starlet who was jailed over a £600k cannabis plot has returned to football. 5 Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has signed for AFC Totton Credit: 5 He has been in jail for a drug plot worth £600k Credit: PA 5 He came through the youth academy at Arsenal Credit: Getty The forward had already served 10 months of the sentence in HMP Chelmsford. Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, was first arrested after border officials seized two suitcases containing £600k worth of cannabis at Stansted Airport. The drugs, which weighed around 60kg, had arrived via flight from Bangkok in Thailand. Chelmsford Crown Court heard the drugs were brought into the UK by Emmanuel-Thomas' girlfriend Yasmin Piotrowska. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL She had flown business class to Stanstead Airport with Rosie Rowland to carry out the plot on September 2. He has now made his return to football, having signed for National League South side AFC Totton. The former Gunner was announced as a stag on social media. A statement read: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to the club. Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS "Jay joins us with a wealth of experience in the Championship and we're sure his goals will lead to a successful season here on the South Coast." He will wear the no.14 shirt for the Stags. Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over plot to smuggle £600k of cannabis into UK Emmanuel-Thomas is a former He began his career at While at the Gunners, he did make five first-team appearances, including one in the Premier League and one in the Champions League. However, both of those substitute appearances ended in defeat as Arsenal lost to Shakhtar Donetsk and 5 Greenock Mortons sacked Emmanuel Thomson after he was arrested Credit: © Jamie Williamson, All rights reserved 5 He has also played for Aberdeen in Scotland Credit: PA It was his He played 103 times for the Robins, scoring 33 goals and assisting 20. He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton following his arrest last year.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over £600k cannabis plot signs for new club after release from prison
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER Arsenal starlet who was jailed over a £600k cannabis plot has returned to football. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was released from prison earlier this month on parole despite being sentenced to four years in June. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has signed for AFC Totton Credit: 5 He has been in jail for a drug plot worth £600k Credit: PA 5 He came through the youth academy at Arsenal Credit: Getty The forward had already served 10 months of the sentence in HMP Chelmsford. Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, was first arrested after border officials seized two suitcases containing £600k worth of cannabis at Stansted Airport. The drugs, which weighed around 60kg, had arrived via flight from Bangkok in Thailand. Chelmsford Crown Court heard the drugs were brought into the UK by Emmanuel-Thomas' girlfriend Yasmin Piotrowska. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL IRON IT OUT West Ham face vacating London Stadium if major sporting event gets green light She had flown business class to Stanstead Airport with Rosie Rowland to carry out the plot on September 2. He has now made his return to football, having signed for National League South side AFC Totton. The former Gunner was announced as a stag on social media. A statement read: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to the club. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS "Jay joins us with a wealth of experience in the Championship and we're sure his goals will lead to a successful season here on the South Coast." He will wear the no.14 shirt for the Stags. Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over plot to smuggle £600k of cannabis into UK Emmanuel-Thomas is a former England under-17 and under-19 international. He began his career at Arsenal before playing for various clubs - including Ipswich Town, Bristol City, QPR, Livingston and Aberdeen. While at the Gunners, he did make five first-team appearances, including one in the Premier League and one in the Champions League. However, both of those substitute appearances ended in defeat as Arsenal lost to Shakhtar Donetsk and Chelsea. 5 Greenock Mortons sacked Emmanuel Thomson after he was arrested Credit: © Jamie Williamson, All rights reserved 5 He has also played for Aberdeen in Scotland Credit: PA It was his spell at Bristol City between 2013 and 2015 that he enjoyed the most success. He played 103 times for the Robins, scoring 33 goals and assisting 20. He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton following his arrest last year.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Andy Carroll opens up on shock Dagenham and Redbridge move and why he turned down 'more money' from 'six or seven clubs at higher levels'
Andy Carroll has revealed the reasons behind his stunning decision to drop down to the sixth tier of English football - admitting he turned down lucrative offers from up to seven clubs at higher levels to join Dagenham and Redbridge. Last week, the former England and Premier League striker signed a three-year deal with the National League South side, also acquiring a minority ownership stake in the club. He had previously played for Bordeaux in the French fourth tier, where he became a fan favourite in his single campaign. The 36-year-old dropped down the divisions and took a huge pay cut, even revealing that he was losing money by playing for them. Now, Carroll has opened up on his decision to choose passion over money again by joining Dagenham. 'From the first meeting with the manager, I just knew it was the right club,' Carroll told The Athletic. 'I had probably six or seven clubs on the phone at higher levels, driving distance from home, and more money, but for me, it was the whole package of the club. 'I could speak to the owners, and they'd tell me what the future was going to look like. I could also speak to the manager, and he could tell me what it would be like. I just felt like I wanted to be part of it.' Regarding his aims with the east London club, the former Liverpool star added: 'I think the main thing that I would like to see is the academy set back up. 'If you've got 60,000 kids in the area under 16, you've got an opportunity. With West Ham around the corner, The Academy of Football, look at the players they've produced over the years. To get that up and running is key for the club - it's a necessity, really. 'You look at the club and you think it's got potential. It's 30 minutes into London on the train. It's a fantastic area. I could go to a League One (third division) or a Championship (second) team, and be mid-table and play bits and pieces, not really enjoying it, and float around. 'Or I could come here, start from the bottom, and have a project where I can work on the pitch and off the pitch to hopefully bring something fantastic to the club in the area.' Carroll started his career at Newcastle before earning a £35million switch to Liverpool in 2011. He played for England nine times, scoring at the 2012 Euros. Carroll also had spells at West Ham, West Brom, Reading and returned to Newcastle before moving to Amiens in September 2023. He stayed in France for the 2024-25 season, and scored 11 goals in 23 matches last season for Bordeaux, who finished fourth in the National 2, France's fourth division.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Truro City sign striker Jephcott on permanent deal
Truro City have signed striker Luke Jephcott on a permanent deal after he was released by Newport 25-year-old former Wales Under-21 international spent the second half of last season on loan at Truro, scoring six goals in 17 games as the Tinners won National League former Plymouth Argyle forward moved to Newport from Scottish side St Johnstone in January 2024 but failed to score in 32 league and cup matches."I came in during the second half of last season and I just wanted to find my love for football, which I definitely found, back home with Truro," Jephcott told the club website. "Being closer to home was great and it helped to be part of a great group of players and working for great staff too."I met with the club recently and I was told about the ambitions and the direction it was going, so I was really excited to put pen to paper. "Since I came back to Truro, I just wanted to play and help the team. To win the league and create history for Truro City is something that I will never forget."
