Ex-Celtic and Sunderland player arrested last year after high speed chase while under influence of alcohol
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.
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.