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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Jay Emmanuel-Thomas admits plot to smuggle £600k cannabis | Jay Emmanuel-Thomas admits plot to smuggle £600k cannabis |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Jay Emmanuel-Thomas appeared via a video link from prison | Jay Emmanuel-Thomas appeared via a video link from prison |
| A professional footballer has admitted his involvement in a plot to smuggle drugs with a street value of £600,000 from Thailand into the UK. | A professional footballer has admitted his involvement in a plot to smuggle drugs with a street value of £600,000 from Thailand into the UK. |
| Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, was arrested after 60kg (132lb) of cannabis was found in suitcases arriving at London Stansted Airport, Essex, on 2 September. | |
| He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after being charged, having previously played for Arsenal, Aberdeen, Ipswich Town and England at youth level. | He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after being charged, having previously played for Arsenal, Aberdeen, Ipswich Town and England at youth level. |
| The father-of-two will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court at a later date. | The father-of-two will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court at a later date. |
| Emmanuel-Thomas, of Cardwell Road, Gourock, near Glasgow, pleaded guilty to the offence in May. Reporting restrictions on the case were lifted on Wednesday. | Emmanuel-Thomas, of Cardwell Road, Gourock, near Glasgow, pleaded guilty to the offence in May. Reporting restrictions on the case were lifted on Wednesday. |
| Prosecutor David Josse KC said it followed a "very thorough investigation" by the National Crime Agency (NCA). | Prosecutor David Josse KC said it followed a "very thorough investigation" by the National Crime Agency (NCA). |
| The drugs arrived in suitcases from Bangkok via Dubai | The drugs arrived in suitcases from Bangkok via Dubai |
| Emmanuel-Thomas duped his 33-year-old girlfriend, Yasmin Piotrowska, and her friend, Rosie Rowland, 28, into collecting the cannabis in Thailand and smuggling it into the UK. | Emmanuel-Thomas duped his 33-year-old girlfriend, Yasmin Piotrowska, and her friend, Rosie Rowland, 28, into collecting the cannabis in Thailand and smuggling it into the UK. |
| They were given an all expenses paid trip to the country and promised a payment of £2,500, the NCA said. | They were given an all expenses paid trip to the country and promised a payment of £2,500, the NCA said. |
| Meanwhile, the footballer acted as an intermediary between criminals in both Thailand and the UK. | Meanwhile, the footballer acted as an intermediary between criminals in both Thailand and the UK. |
| The women were stopped by Border Force officials at Stansted Airport after flying in from Bangkok, and found to have four suitcases containing cannabis. | The women were stopped by Border Force officials at Stansted Airport after flying in from Bangkok, and found to have four suitcases containing cannabis. |
| However, charges against Ms Rowland, of Southend Road, Chelmsford, and Ms Piotrowska, of Purves Road, north-west London, were dropped earlier. | However, charges against Ms Rowland, of Southend Road, Chelmsford, and Ms Piotrowska, of Purves Road, north-west London, were dropped earlier. |
| They wept as they were allowed to leave the dock, having denied importing cannabis between 1 July and 2 September at earlier hearings. | They wept as they were allowed to leave the dock, having denied importing cannabis between 1 July and 2 September at earlier hearings. |
| Emmanuel-Thomas told NCA officers he felt "sorry for the girls" | Emmanuel-Thomas told NCA officers he felt "sorry for the girls" |
| Mr Josse said the investigation into their involvement was discontinued after analysis of Emmanuel-Thomas's mobile phone. | Mr Josse said the investigation into their involvement was discontinued after analysis of Emmanuel-Thomas's mobile phone. |
| "They thought they were importing gold, not cannabis," the prosecutor said. | "They thought they were importing gold, not cannabis," the prosecutor said. |
| On his way to custody in September, Emmanuel-Thomas said "I just feel sorry for the girls", the NCA added. | On his way to custody in September, Emmanuel-Thomas said "I just feel sorry for the girls", the NCA added. |
| Emmanuel-Thomas made five first team appearances for Arsenal, also going on to play for Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, MK Dons, and Thai-based team PTT Rayong in 2019. | Emmanuel-Thomas made five first team appearances for Arsenal, also going on to play for Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, MK Dons, and Thai-based team PTT Rayong in 2019. |
| He was sacked by Scottish side Greenock Morton FC after being arrested at his home in on 18 September. | He was sacked by Scottish side Greenock Morton FC after being arrested at his home in on 18 September. |
| David Philips, a senior NCA investigator, said: "Organised criminals like Emmanuel-Thomas can be very persuasive and offer payment to couriers. | David Philips, a senior NCA investigator, said: "Organised criminals like Emmanuel-Thomas can be very persuasive and offer payment to couriers. |
| "But the risk of getting caught is very high and it simply isn't worth it." | "But the risk of getting caught is very high and it simply isn't worth it." |
| The maximum sentence for smuggling cannabis into the UK is 14 years in jail. | The maximum sentence for smuggling cannabis into the UK is 14 years in jail. |