Ex-Arsenal star Anthony Stokes jailed after 100mph car chase and £3,300 cocaine seizure

Anthony Stokes, 36, has been sentenced to 15 months successful situation aft a high-speed car pursuit successful Dublin successful January 2023 saw him caught with astir £3,300 worthy of cocaine

Former Arsenal and Celtic striker Anthony Stokes has been fixed a 15-month situation condemnation aft being caught with astir £3,300 worthy of cocaine pursuing a unsafe car chase.

Stokes was pulled implicit by constabulary successful Dublin soon aft midnight connected January 6, 2023 pursuing a pursuit astatine 100mph. After ignoring reddish lights, helium astir collided with different motorist and was recovered to beryllium implicit the intoxicant limit, arsenic good driving without insurance.

The 36-year-old besides entered an further blameworthy plea to possessing 86 amerciable thoroughfare tablets successful a abstracted incident. He was sentenced by Judge Grainne Malone astatine Dublin District Court to 1 twelvemonth and 3 months successful situation and handed a five-year driving prohibition connected Tuesday.

Defending Stokes, solicitor Lorraine Stephens said helium "is trying to conflict his demons" having antecedently been successful denial astir his addiction to cocaine and intoxicant since helium retired from playing shot successful 2020. Sentencing had been adjourned past period with Judge Malone waiting to spot impervious that Stokes was drug-free, but traces of cocaine were inactive recovered successful his system.

The begetter of 3 was supported successful tribunal by his woman and parent and showed nary emotion aft being sentenced. Stokes admitted driving portion implicit the intoxicant limit, 4 counts of unsafe driving, arsenic good arsenic to unlawful possession of cocaine and having the cause for merchantability oregon supply. He besides admitted not producing a driving licence and to not being insured.

He was lone caught aft a terrifying 10-minute car chase, which ended erstwhile helium recovered the gates of Phoenix Park closed. Stokes tried to fly connected ft but was caught by police. Cocaine worthy €3,700 (£3,300) was recovered successful wraps successful a sock successful the aerial vent of the car helium was driving.

Stokes had 1 anterior condemnation for battle causing harm successful 2013, which resulted successful a suspended condemnation and a £25,000 compensation order.

The ex-striker began his shot vocation astatine Arsenal aft moving from Dublin arsenic a youngster. He went connected to play for Sunderland and Hibernian earlier the astir palmy play of his vocation came successful six years astatine Celtic, wherever helium helped triumph 4 Scottish Premiership titles. Stokes earned 9 caps for the Republic of Ireland betwixt 2007 and 2014.

After a nomadic period, which saw him play successful Greece, Iran and Turkey, helium retired successful 2020. According to his defence, that is erstwhile helium developed a occupation with intoxicant and drugs.