A drug dealer ruined his "promising" Liverpool FC career by getting involved with cocaine and heroin.
John Smith once had a "promising career" as a youth player with the Reds, but "wasted his talent" by falling into drink and drugs. And the now 38-year-old was caught with thousand of pounds of class A substances when police pulled over his car.
Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Friday, the police patrols spotted his Ford Kuga driving on City Road in Walton on October 11 last year. Mr Jones, prosecuting, described how Smith - who had two male passengers - appeared to be "very nervous and looking around".
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After running checks, officers found that the vehicle was uninsured. Despite "briefly losing sight" of the car, they then found it parked up nearby with only the defendant inside.
Smith again "appeared very nervous", with the PCs discovering he was in possession of three mobile phones which were "ringing constantly". His home on Carr Lane in Norris Green was then raided.
Unusually, he owned up and "told the officers where the drugs were". Most were found in the kitchen in a drawer and cupboard.
In total, 22g of crack cocaine worth around £2,460 and 23g of heroin with a potential street value of £2,080 was seized. The search also uncovered £3,130 in cash.
Analysis of the phones showed some messages relating to drug dealing, including some asking "are you on?". Tick lists discovered referenced figures in the thousands of pounds, £250 in wages and expenses for petrol.
Smith has a total of 13 previous convictions for 23 offences, although none in relation to the supply of drugs. In 2005, he was jailed for three years and 10 months for inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent - having slashed a woman's arm and stabbed two men in the street after arming himself with knives and meat cleavers - before being rapped for affray in 2013, when he himself was knifed during a fight on Duke Street in the city centre.
Two years later, he was locked up again after bottling a man and causing him horrific facial injuries. The 21-year-old was left with a broken nose, left cheekbone and eye socket after the attack - which saw him smash a bottle of Budweiser over the victim's head - as well as losing seven teeth.
Smith later pleaded guilty to wounding and was handed a three-year extended sentence. The judge on this occasion stated: "Aged 19, you had a promising football career with Liverpool FC but since then - largely due to issues with drugs and alcohol - your life has spiralled out of control."
Brendan Carville, defending Smith during his latest court appearance, said: "The defendant is realistic in his approach and has brought his kit bag with him. He volunteered where the drugs were when police came round to his home.
"He hasn't put forward any lame excuse, trying to blame others. He apologises for once again being in trouble."
Smith admitted possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and was jailed for 32 months. Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC said: "The real aggravating feature here is your criminal record.
"You have got a bad record for violence. On the other hand, you have no previous for drugs supply."
Forfeiture of the phones and destruction of the drugs was also ordered. Smith, who was told to pay a victim surcharge, told the judge "thank you your honour" before being led down to the cells".
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