Ex-Arsenal star sentenced last month for part in £600k drug smuggling plot signs for new team
The player came through the ranks at the north London club, before going on loan at a number of Football League sides such as Blackpool, Doncaster Rovers, and Cardiff before leaving the Gunners.
He had stints at a number of clubs in England, Scotland and even India and Thailand, before joining Greenock Morton, where he was later sacked after his arrest back in September last year.
The player in question, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, had been arrested after an estimated £600,000 worth of cannabis was seized while being brought through Stansted Airport by two women, one of whom was his girlfriend.
Though Emmanuel-Thomas initially claimed to be innocent, he eventually changed his plea to guilty at a hearing in May at Chelmsford Crown Court.
He then received a four-year prison sentence, but was released on parole having already served 10 months at HMP Chelmsford, and he has now already found himself a new club.
Emmanuel-Thomas has been snapped up by National League South side AFC Totton, and the 34-year-old's playing career is now set to resume.
'We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to the club,' Totton revealed in a statement.
'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!'
During the case, the prosecutor - David Josse KC - told the court that the interception of the two women carrying the drugs had taken place at the airport.
He added that it the became 'apparent' that Emmanuel-Thomas has been involved in 'their recruitment' to travel to Thailand.
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.'
Emmanuel-Thomas' lawyer Alex rose, said: 'The financial gain in this case for Mr Emmanuel-Thomas was £5,000.'
He added that the former Arsenal academy star, who played five times for the first team, had made a 'catastrophic error of judgement', following a period of 'significant financial hard times' that had led him to 'succumbing to temptation'.
Emmanuel-Thomas wrote in a letter read out in the court: 'This past year has been the most harmful and eye-opening of my life. At times it has been unbearable.'
He also noted that he 'completely regrets but takes full responsibility for' his actions.
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North Wales Chronicle
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Metro
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18 minutes ago
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