Anthony Stokes (36), a previous football player for both Republic of Ireland, Celtic and Sunderland, has received a 15-month prison sentence and a five-year prohibition on driving. The charges were linked to an incident involving almost €4,000 of cocaine and a high-speed car chase in Dublin. Stokes, exceeding the legal drink-drive limit, drove at speeds of up to 160km/h and narrowly avoided a collision with another car shortly after midnight on the 6th of January, 2023.
The sentence was handed down by Judge Gráinne Malone at Dublin District Court on a Tuesday, after information emerged of Stokes’ recent failed drug test. Stokes also confessed to owning 86 unlawful street tablets found in Cabinteely, south of Co Dublin, around ten days post the car chase. This, the judge deemed an exacerbating circumstance, and refused to suspend any part of the custodial sentence.
Supported in court by his mother and girlfriend, Stokes, who resides at Summerhill Place, Dublin 1, exhibited no visible emotion as he was sentenced. After his sentencing, he posted €1,000 for appeal bail and was set free.
The previous month, the judge had postponed Stokes sentencing, pending a report to confirm he had abstained from drugs. Unfortunately, the player was found to still have cocaine residue in his system.
Lorraine Stephens, his defence solicitor, characterised her client as young, physically fit and healthy. She pled for a community service sentence, pointing out that Stokes is a father of three who has been in refusal of his issues. Stephens added that he’s currently embattled with his addictions, which might necessitate high-level psychological support and “proper residential treatment.”
Judge Malone expressed that the former footballer potentially faced up to two years in prison. Nonetheless, she acknowledged his honest admissions and handed down a consolidated sentence of one-year and three-months. In her final remarks, she emphasised the severity of the driving characteristics, the speed and duration of the pursuit, lack of insurance, the modest alcohol levels, and the gravity of the drug offenses.
The former Premier League footballer admitted to illegally possessing cocaine, concealed in a sock, for sale or supply. The player’s alcohol problems led him into cocaine addiction following the cessation of his football career, as the judge learnt in the previous hearing.
The ex-footballer also confessed to driving above the acceptable alcohol level, engaging in four incidents of reckless driving during a chase that started on the Naas Road, and ended in Phoenix Park.
The former professional also conceded that he failed to produce a driving license and did not have car insurance during the ordeal. Police Officer Radoslaw Konczewski remembered the man, speeding on Walkinstown Avenue near midnight. Despite the officer signalling with his patrol car’s lights, the ex-player did not stop and, driving at speed, entered the Long Mile Road junction through a red light.
The man continued his dangerous spree on the Naas Road, ignoring a red light at a vast collision point, and driving onto Ballyfermot Road where he infringed two pedestrian red lights and ran a junction red light.
Despite nearing a collision with another vehicle on the Chapelizod bypass while heading to Kennelsfort Road Upper, he pressed on, breaking another red light. With his car passenger, the lawbreaker went on to Knockmaroon Road, halting at Phoenix Park’s closed gates where he abandoned the car. However, he was apprehended after a small foot chase. The vehicular pursuit lasted roughly 10 minutes.
Officer Konczewski estimated that the driver’s speed peeked at about 160km/h and was approximately 140km/h as he raced through Ballyfermot village. His car, now in possession of the Gardaí at Crumlin station, was discovered to contain cocaine worth €3,700 in the driver-side air vent, wrapped inside a sock bearing the offender’s DNA.
The offender was found to be over the alcohol limit during urinalysis but was co-operative and easy to manage during the entire process. In 2013, he was previously convicted for assault, resulting in a suspended sentence and a requirement to pay €30,000 in damages. The judge considered his past negligence of court appearances and time served in custody overseas, although details were not disclosed.
Ms Stephens, in her plea for mitigation, mentioned that he was identified as a talented footballer at the tender age of 14 by Arsenal in London, while he was playing at Cherry Orchard Football Club in Dublin. At 17, he became a part of Sunderland and later found further success with Celtic in the Scottish League.
His struggle with addiction began at an early stage in life. His adoptive parents relocated with him in support of his dreams, but his issue with alcohol addiction began post his 16th birthday. His career end was marked with an escalation to abusing cocaine, which he was “deeply immersed in during the incident”.
It was reported to the court that his professional career ending had a negative impact on him. Stokes was said to have developed a gambling issue, as stated by the defence. He was featured in a documentary showcasing the struggles and mental health problems faced by budding footballers without proper guidance at a very tender age.
The appeal for bail is set at €1,000, if he wishes to dispute his prison term. Another individual is also facing the court concerning the drug confiscation.