Footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas denies drug importation charge

Footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has denied a complaint of importing people B drugs arsenic helium appeared successful tribunal accused implicit an effort to smuggle £600,000 of cannabis done Stansted Airport.

The 33-year-old striker was sacked by Scottish Championship broadside Greenock Morton aft his apprehension past month.

The erstwhile Livingston, Aberdeen and Arsenal academy merchandise appeared earlier Chelmsford Crown Court by video-link from HMP Durham connected Friday and pleaded not blameworthy to importing people B drugs.

He is accused, unneurotic with co-defendants Rosie Rowland and Yasmin Piotrowska, of the alleged offence betwixt July 1 and September 2 of this year.

Rowland, 28, of Southend Road, Chelmsford, and 33-year-old Piotrowska of Purves Road, north-west London, some besides pleaded not blameworthy to the complaint arsenic they appeared successful the dock of the court.

Emmanuel-Thomas, of Cardwell Road successful Gourock, Inverclyde, was arrested successful the municipality by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers past period and was questioned earlier helium was remanded into custody.

The footballer, who wore a grey prison-issue tracksuit and was seated for the tribunal hearing, has besides played for Ipswich Town, Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers and Thai broadside PTT Rayong.

His apprehension came aft the NCA seized an estimated £600,000 of the people B cause arsenic it was being smuggled done Stansted connected September 2.

Border Force officers detected astir 60kg of the cause successful 2 suitcases, which had arrived via a formation from Bangkok, Thailand.

A trial, estimated to past 5 to 7 days, is owed to instrumentality spot connected a day to beryllium fixed, with a further lawsuit absorption proceeding scheduled for January 6.

Judge Christopher Morgan remanded Emmanuel-Thomas successful custody and bailed Rowland and Piotrowska until then.

He said the proceedings could provisionally instrumentality spot successful May.