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| Jay Emmanuel-Thomas signed by AFC Totton after drugs prison term | Jay Emmanuel-Thomas signed by AFC Totton after drugs prison term |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Jay Emmanuel-Thomas orchestrated the importation of a £600,000 cannabis haul into Essex | Jay Emmanuel-Thomas orchestrated the importation of a £600,000 cannabis haul into Essex |
| Convicted drug smuggler Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has returned to football after being released from prison. | Convicted drug smuggler Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has returned to football after being released from prison. |
| The 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. | The 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 Tuesday. | Fans on social media accused Hampshire side AFC Totton of a "severe lack of class" after signing him on Tuesday. |
| The club was contacted for comment, while the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said Emmanuel-Thomas was subject to "strict" license conditions. | The 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 September. | 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 September. |
| The footballer spent more than 10 months in prison, of which about eight and a half were on remand ahead of his sentencing. | The footballer spent more than 10 months in prison, of which about eight and a half were on remand ahead of his sentencing. |
| He was released from prison on 9 July 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 government. | Eligible prisoners have been allowed to leave prison after serving 40% of their term, under rules introduced by the Labour government. |
| Emmanuel-Thomas made his debut for AFC Totton in a pre-season victory over Weymouth FC on Tuesday, playing 45 minutes. | Emmanuel-Thomas made his debut for AFC Totton in a pre-season victory over Weymouth FC on Tuesday, playing 45 minutes. |
| Announcing his signing before the match, the National League South club said it was "delighted" to have him on board. | Announcing 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 statement. | "Jay will bring his powerful presence and exceptional technical ability to The Snows Stadium," it said in a statement. |
| As it happened: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas jailed for four years | As it happened: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas jailed for four years |
| The club referenced Emmanuel-Thomas' "experience" of playing in Thailand, where he met the drug producers behind his smuggling plot. | The club referenced Emmanuel-Thomas' "experience" of playing in Thailand, where he met the drug producers behind his smuggling plot. |
| One user on X said "signing a criminal is absolutely diabolical", while another suggested it showed a "severe lack of class". | One 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". | But others said it was a "good signing" and that Emmanuel-Thomas was a "phenomenal player". |
| During his sentencing, it was said that Emmanuel-Thomas would feel "regret and shame for the rest of his life" | During his sentencing, it was said that Emmanuel-Thomas would feel "regret and shame for the rest of his life" |
| In a post-match interview on AFC Totton's X account, manager Jimmy Ball praised Emmanuel-Thomas as "a nice kid". | 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. | "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'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." | "[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 September. | Emmanuel-Thomas was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after he was arrested in September. |
| He also played for Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, MK Dons, Gillingham, Aberdeen and Livingston, as well as Thai-based team PTT Rayong and England at youth level. | He also played for Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, MK Dons, Gillingham, Aberdeen and Livingston, as well as Thai-based team PTT Rayong and England at youth level. |
| Sentencing him at Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Alexander Mills said he was the "professional footballer who threw it all away". | Sentencing 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. | "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. | 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. |