PREMIERSHIP STAR JAILED
A former Premiership footballer who had fallen on hard times has been jailed for eight years for drugs trafficking offences.
Mark Ward, 42, was arrested after 9lbs of cocaine with a street value of up to £645,000 was discovered during a raid at a house he rented on Merseyside.
He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply.
Ward's barrister, Nicholas Johnson, described how "the sporting hero" had become "a convicted drug trafficker" after retiring in 1996.
He said: "At the height of his career with Everton he was earning £1,200-a-week. When it came to retirement he had no healthy bank balance, no business interests and no rosy career as a media pundit."
The court was told that Ward was asked by an unnamed person to rent a house for which he was paid £500 per week.
In May, police raided the property he had rented and discovered the drugs - along with a large amount of an agent used to cut pure drugs.
Ward admitted knowing the drugs were on the premises but denied he was the owner of the stash.
Prosecuting barrister Henry Riding claimed Ward played an active role in the preparation and distribution of the drugs.
Sentencing him, Judge John Phipps said: "It is indeed regrettable to see a former professional footballer of your ability reduced to this."
Among his clubs were West Ham, Manchester City and Everton.
A former Premiership footballer who had fallen on hard times has been jailed for eight years for drugs trafficking offences.
Mark Ward, 42, was arrested after 9lbs of cocaine with a street value of up to £645,000 was discovered during a raid at a house he rented on Merseyside.
He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply.
Ward's barrister, Nicholas Johnson, described how "the sporting hero" had become "a convicted drug trafficker" after retiring in 1996.
He said: "At the height of his career with Everton he was earning £1,200-a-week. When it came to retirement he had no healthy bank balance, no business interests and no rosy career as a media pundit."
The court was told that Ward was asked by an unnamed person to rent a house for which he was paid £500 per week.
In May, police raided the property he had rented and discovered the drugs - along with a large amount of an agent used to cut pure drugs.
Ward admitted knowing the drugs were on the premises but denied he was the owner of the stash.
Prosecuting barrister Henry Riding claimed Ward played an active role in the preparation and distribution of the drugs.
Sentencing him, Judge John Phipps said: "It is indeed regrettable to see a former professional footballer of your ability reduced to this."
Among his clubs were West Ham, Manchester City and Everton.
