Latest news with #JayEmmanuelThomas
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Drug-smuggling footballer 'deserves second chance'
Footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who was jailed for drug smuggling last month but signed for a new club on Tuesday, deserves a second chance, his manager said. The former Arsenal striker signed for Hampshire side AFC Totton after serving 10 months of a four-year sentence for importing £600,000 worth of cannabis. Jimmy Ball, who manages the National League South side, said it was "comfortable" with offering Emmanuel-Thomas a "second chance to put his life back on track and put his football career back on track". The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said Emmanuel-Thomas, who served about eight and a half months on remand ahead of his sentencing, was subject to "strict" licence conditions. "We spoke to Jay, we spoke to his representatives and people who have been through a lot with him," Ball told BBC Radio Solent. "We were happy to give a boy a second chance, if you like, or any chance, after obviously making some mistakes in his life. "But you shouldn't be punished forever and we feel that football saves lives, football is a great thing for people to hang onto and we felt it was right to give somebody a chance." Emmanuel-Thomas made his debut for AFC Totton in a pre-season victory over Weymouth FC on Tuesday. He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after his arrest for importing the class B drug into London Stansted Airport from Thailand in September. The former England youth player also played for Ipswich Town, Bristol City, QPR, MK Dons, Gillingham, Aberdeen, Livingston and Thailand's PTT Rayong. Some people on social media had accused AFC Totton of a "lack of class" but Ball disagreed. "Who defines what class is? Is forgiveness class? Should people be punished forever? He served his punishment and he now should be allowed to continue with his life and be given a second chance," he continued. "I guess people can write what they want. We're comfortable as a football club with Jay and comfortable with the decision we made to offer a young man a second chance to put his life back on track and put his football career back on track. "We can live with that and we're happy with the decision we made." Alex Rose, who represented Emmanuel-Thomas at his sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court, said he "succumbed to temptation and a catastrophic error of judgement". Mr Rose said the footballer had suffered from the "absolutely seismic shock that taking responsibility for something like this brings". You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. More on this story Drug-smuggling footballer signed after prison term Updates as footballer sentenced for £600k drug smuggling plot Footballer jailed for £600k drugs smuggling plot From teenage Arsenal prodigy to convicted drug smuggler
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas 'deserves second chance'
Footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who was jailed for drug smuggling last month but signed for a new club on Tuesday, deserves a second chance, his manager former Arsenal striker signed for Hampshire side AFC Totton after serving 10 months of a four-year sentence for importing £600,000 worth of Ball, who manages the National League South side, said it was "comfortable" with offering Emmanuel-Thomas a "second chance to put his life back on track and put his football career back on track".The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said Emmanuel-Thomas, who served about eight and a half months on remand ahead of his sentencing, was subject to "strict" licence conditions. "We spoke to Jay, we spoke to his representatives and people who have been through a lot with him," Ball told BBC Radio Solent."We were happy to give a boy a second chance, if you like, or any chance, after obviously making some mistakes in his life."But you shouldn't be punished forever and we feel that football saves lives, football is a great thing for people to hang onto and we felt it was right to give somebody a chance."Emmanuel-Thomas made his debut for AFC Totton in a pre-season victory over Weymouth FC on Tuesday. He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after his arrest for importing the class B drug into London Stansted Airport from Thailand in former England youth player also played for Ipswich Town, Bristol City, QPR, MK Dons, Gillingham, Aberdeen, Livingston and Thailand's PTT Rayong. Some people on social media had accused AFC Totton of a "lack of class" but Ball disagreed."Who defines what class is? Is forgiveness class? Should people be punished forever? He served his punishment and he now should be allowed to continue with his life and be given a second chance," he continued."I guess people can write what they want. We're comfortable as a football club with Jay and comfortable with the decision we made to offer a young man a second chance to put his life back on track and put his football career back on track. "We can live with that and we're happy with the decision we made."Alex Rose, who represented Emmanuel-Thomas at his sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court, said he "succumbed to temptation and a catastrophic error of judgement".Mr Rose said the footballer had suffered from the "absolutely seismic shock that taking responsibility for something like this brings". You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ex-Arsenal star sentenced last month for part in £600k drug smuggling plot signs for new team
A former Arsenal academy star has already been picked up by a new team - just a month after he was handed a four-year prison sentence for his role in a drug smuggle plot. 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.
STV News
6 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas signs for new football club following jail term
Former Greenock Morton player Jay Emmanuel Thomas has signed for a new football club after being released from jail. The 34-year-old, who has also had spells at Livingston and Aberdeen, was arrested in Gourock, Inverclyde, last September for his involvement in the importation of £600,000 worth of cannabis. He was sacked by Morton after being detained and questioned by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers and was handed a four-year prison sentence last month. However, he was released with strict license conditions after serving ten months of the term and has now made a return to the pitch with Hampshire side AFC Totton, who play in the English National League South. NEW SIGNING 🦌💙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! #GoStags🦌 — AFC Totton ⚽️🦌 (@AFCTotton) July 22, 2025 The club confirmed his signing on Tuesday, and he made his debut that night against Weymouth FC that night. Emmanuel-Thomas, who started his career with Arsenal before playing for a string of clubs on both sides of the border as well as short stints in Thailand and India, pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex to fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of cannabis between July 1, 2024 and September 2, 2024. Before his arrest he had played six games for Morton without scoring a goal after moving to Cappielow from Kidderminster Harriers. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas signed by AFC Totton after drugs prison term
Convicted drug smuggler Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has returned to football after being released from ex-Arsenal and Ipswich Town striker had served more than 10 months of a four-year sentence behind bars, having been jailed in June for masterminding the importation of £600,000 worth of cannabis at London Stansted Airport. Fans on social media accused Hampshire side AFC Totton of a "severe lack of class" after signing him on club was contacted for comment, while the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said Emmanuel-Thomas was subject to "strict" license conditions. The £600,000 haul of cannabis imported to the UK from Thailand was spread across four suitcases, and 60kg (132lb) of the Class B drug was seized at Stansted on 2 footballer spent more than 10 months in prison, of which about eight and a half were on remand ahead of his was released from prison with "strict conditions", the MoJ told the BBC, including an electronically monitored curfew. Eligible prisoners have been allowed to leave prison after serving 40% of their term, under rules introduced by the Labour made his debut for AFC Totton in a pre-season victory over Weymouth FC on Tuesday, playing 45 his signing before the match, the National League South club said it was "delighted" to have him on board."Jay will bring his powerful presence and exceptional technical ability to The Snows Stadium," it said in a it happened: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas jailed for four yearsThe club referenced Emmanuel-Thomas' "experience" of playing in Thailand, where he met the drug producers behind his smuggling user on X said "signing a criminal is absolutely diabolical", while another suggested it showed a "severe lack of class".But others said it was a "good signing" and that Emmanuel-Thomas was a "phenomenal player". In a post-match interview on AFC Totton's X account, manager Jimmy Ball praised Emmanuel-Thomas as "a nice kid"."We had a phone call earlier in the week and, remembering Jay as a kid, he was an exceptional talent," Ball said."He's still got the hunger, he's still got the desire. He's a real physical presence with real good technical ability as well. "[He is a] nice kid and we're excited to have him here."Emmanuel-Thomas was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after he was arrested in also played for Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, MK Dons and Gillingham, as well as Thai-based team PTT Rayong and England at youth him at Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Alexander Mills said he was the "professional footballer who threw it all away"."It is through your own actions you will no longer be known as a professional footballer; you will be known as a criminal," he added. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
