Former Arsenal player Anthony Stokes has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after being involved in a high-speed car chase in Dublin. The 36-year-old was caught with nearly £3,300 worth of cocaine following the chase, during which he reached speeds of up to 100mph and drove through red lights. Stokes was also found to be over the drink-drive limit and uninsured at the time of the incident. In addition to the drug-related charges, he also pleaded guilty to possessing illegal street tablets in a separate incident.
During his sentencing at Dublin District Court, Judge Grainne Malone handed down a one year and three month prison sentence to Stokes, along with a five-year driving ban. Stokes’ solicitor, Lorraine Stephens, stated that he has been struggling with addiction issues since retiring from football in 2020 and is now trying to confront his demons. Despite efforts to show the court that he was drug-free, traces of cocaine were still found in his system.
Stokes, who was accompanied by his girlfriend and mother in court, showed no emotion as the sentence was read out. He admitted to driving while over the alcohol limit, dangerous driving, unlawful possession of cocaine, and other related charges. The former footballer was apprehended by police after a 10-minute car chase that ended when he was unable to exit Phoenix Park due to closed gates. Cocaine was discovered in the vehicle he was driving, hidden inside a sock in the air vents.
This isn’t Stokes’ first run-in with the law, as he has a previous conviction for assault causing harm from 2013, which resulted in a suspended sentence and a compensation order. His professional football career began at Arsenal before moving on to clubs such as Sunderland, Celtic, and Hibernian. Stokes also had stints in Greece, Iran, and Turkey before retiring in 2020.
It is clear that Stokes has faced challenges both on and off the field, and his recent legal troubles highlight the struggles he has been dealing with since leaving professional football. The sentencing serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in illegal activities and the importance of seeking help for addiction issues.