Former Republic of Ireland footballer Anthony Stokes (36) has been jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty to possessing almost €4,000 of cocaine for sale and supply.
The ex-Celtic and Sunderland player also pleaded guilty to four counts of dangerous driving during a pursuit in which he reached a speed of 160km/h while driving over the legal limit shortly after midnight on January 6th, 2023. He also admitted not producing a driving licence and not having motor insurance.
He was sentenced by Judge Gráinne Malone at Dublin District Court on Tuesday after it emerged that he failed a recent drug test.
Stokes also entered an additional guilty plea to possessing 86 illegal tablets in Cabinteely about 10 days after the traffic pursuit, which the judge regarded as an aggravating factor.
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The judge refused to suspend any of the sentence and also imposed a five-year driving ban on Stokes, of Summerhill Place, Dublin 1, who lodged €1,000 and was released on bail pending an appeal.
Judge Malone last month adjourned sentencing for a treatment report to prove Stokes was off drugs, but it found he still had traces of cocaine in his system.
Defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens said Stokes, a father-of-three, had been in denial about his problems but “is trying to battle his demons” and may need “proper residential treatment”.
Judge Malone said Stokes could have faced up to two years’ imprisonment. However, she gave him credit for his guilty pleas and imposed sentences totalling one year and three months.
Garda Radoslaw Konczewski previously told the court he observed Stokes speeding on Walkinstown Avenue at around 12.20am on the night in question. He activated his patrol car lights, but Stokes failed to stop and continued to the Long Mile Road junction, entering it at speed and breaking a a red light.
He drove to the Naas Road and continued to Ballyfermot Road, breaking a number of red lights and reaching a speed of 160km/h at some stages, and continued to Kennelsfort Road Upper, broke a red light, and “almost collided with a car on the Chapelizod bypass”.
The accused, who had a passenger in the car, went to Knockmaroon Road and stopped at the closed gates of Phoenix Park. He abandoned the vehicle but was caught following a short foot pursuit.
Gardaí brought his car to Crumlin station and Cocaine worth €3,700 was found in wraps inside a sock, kept in the air vent on the driver’s side. Stokes’ DNA was also found on the sock. The court heard he also provided a urine sample, which was over the alcohol limit, but he was “fully co-operative” and “a pleasure to deal with”.
Stokes had one prior conviction in this jurisdiction for assault causing harm in 2013, which resulted in a suspended sentence and a €30,000 compensation order. The judge noted he also had a record of failing to turn up to court and has spent time in custody in another jurisdiction, but details about that were not available.
In the mitigation plea, Ms Stephens said Stokes had been a talented footballer but moved to England while a teenager and laboured under addiction from a young age. The court also heard that he reacted badly to the end of his career.
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