Anthony Stokes: The rise and fall of former Ireland star after being handed 15-month jail sentence

Anthony Stokes has been handed a 15-month jail sentence in what has been a dramatic turnaround from his promising football career.

Former Republic of Ireland footballer Anthony Stokes has been handed a 15-month jail sentence. Stokes will face some time behind bars after a seizure of almost €4,000 worth of cocaine and a high-speed car chase in Dublin.

It has been a dramatic downfall for Stokes, who previously played Premier League football with Sunderland.

A hot prospect in his youth, Stokes was signed by Arsenal from Shelbourne in 2003 and broke into their reserve team at the age of 15.

READ MORE: Ex-Ireland footballer Anthony Stokes handed jail sentence over cocaine seizure and car chase in Dublin

Stokes impressed in Scotland on loan with Falkirk in the 2006-07 season before earning a big move to Sunderland, where he played Premier League football. Stokes had loan spells at Sheffield United and Crystal Palace before a move to Hibernian in Scotland.

The abrasive forward netted 21 goals in his first season at the club, finishing just two goals shy of the Golden Boot award, and ended up moving to Glasgow Giants Celtic the following season.

This is where Stokes enjoyed the best spell of his career and earned call-ups to the Ireland squad, lining out nine times for the Boys in Green.

But Stokes has had his run-in with the law down through the years, including during his playing days.

Stokes was handed a two-year suspended sentence for head-butting another man in the VIP lounge of a Dublin Nightclub back in 2013. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Anthony Bradley at Buck Whaleys on Leeson Street, Dublin city on June 8, 2013.

The court heard that Mr Bradley had an exchange of words with a man in Stokes' company because this man was unsteady on his feet and spilling his drink.The conversation was not considered aggressive by other witnesses.

The victim said later said that Stokes then “arrived out of nowhere.” He said he tried to tell him everything was “okay” before Stokes head-butted him on the bridge of his nose.

Mr Bradley was bleeding so badly that his friend, who was standing with him, was covered in blood. He was later treated for a fractured nose and two broken teeth. The jury at a High Court hearing decided Stokes must pay Anthony Bradley damages to cover the cost of his medical treatment, which had risen to €230,000.

In 2019, the former Celtic Star admitted carrying out a terrifying stalking campaign against his ex-girlfriend Eilidh Scott.

The former striker bombarded Scott with a string of abusive messages that saw him send 100 texts a day on WhatsApp and email. He labelled her a 'slut', a 'slag' and a 'whore' and turned up at her home in Shotts, Lanarkshire, late at night.

Jealous Stokes also demanded to know her whereabouts and pestered her mother, May Scott.

Stokes was banned from contacting his ex-girlfriend for four years as well as her mother. Stokes was sentenced to five months behind bars earlier this year after he breached court orders.

Stokes repeatedly messaged Eilidh Scott and her parents despite the strict court ban. Hamilton Sheriff Court heard how the messages were a "little short of chilling," as Stokes was sentenced to five months behind bars. He has also been banned from contacting Eilidh for five years and her parents for a year.

Stokes had his prosecution for headbutting a man in Dublin’s Temple Bar struck out in 2022 due to the absence of a key witness. He was accused of assault causing harm to Fraser Spratt at Fitzgerald’s pub on Aston Quay, in Dublin 2, on March 16, 2019, which he denied.

Mr Stokes was present; however, Judge John Hughes heard that the witness was reluctant to travel over for the hearing from the UK, which was expected to last a day.

Defence solicitor Peter Corrigan of Belfast firm Phoenix Law submitted that the CCTV evidence was inadmissible, and there was no identification evidence in the case against his client. Judge Hughes said he would not vacate the hearing and struck out the case.

Stokes now faces a 15-month spell behind bars after a seizure of almost €4,000 worth of cocaine and a high-speed car chase in Dublin. The ex-Celtic and Sunderland player, who was over the alcohol limit, drove at 160 km/h and nearly collided with another motorist shortly after midnight on January 6, 2023.

He was jailed by Judge Grainne Malone at Dublin District Court today after it emerged that he failed a recent drug test.

The retired footballer also entered an additional guilty plea to possessing 86 illegal street tablets in Cabinteely, south Co Dublin, about ten days after the traffic pursuit, which the judge regarded to be an aggravating factor, and she refused to suspend any of the sentence.

Stokes, of Summerhill Place, Dublin 1, supported in court by his girlfriend and mother, showed no emotion as the judge jailed him and imposed a five-year driving ban. However, he lodged €1,000 and was released on appeal bail shortly after the judge imposed the sentence.

Last month, Judge Malone had adjourned sentencing Stokes, 36, until today for a treatment report to prove he is off drugs, but it found he still had traces of cocaine in his system.

Defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens said her client was young, fit, and healthy and asked the judge to consider a community service order.

Ms Stephens said father-of-three Stokes had been in denial about his problems, "is trying to battle his demons," and could need intensive psychological assistance and "proper residential treatment". Judge Malone said Stokes could have faced up to two years' imprisonment. However, she gave him credit for his guilty pleas and imposed sentences totalling one year and three months.

Finalising the case, she noted the evidence about the nature of his driving, the speed and length of the chase, the fact that he was uninsured, and the low alcohol reading, and she added that the drug offences were very serious.

He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine hidden in a sock, and having the drug for sale or supply. At his previous hearing, the judge heard how his drink issues spiralled into cocaine addiction when his football career ended.

Stokes’ football career ended after departing Livingston back in 2020 after short spells in Greece, Iran, and Turkey.

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