Anthony Stokes has jail sentence overturned on appeal

The former Republic of Ireland footballer Anthony Stokes has had a jail sentence for drug dealing and drunk and dangerous driving overturned on appeal.

The 36-year-old footballer, who also played for Celtic and Sunderland, was sentenced to 15 months in prison last month and banned from driving for five years after he was caught driving at 160km/h and with €3,700 worth of cocaine in his possession.

The District Appeals Court suspended the prison sentence entirely and imposed a community service order.

Stokes was driving drunk at between 140-160km/h shortly after midnight on 6 January 2023.

He failed to stop for gardaí and was pursued as he broke a red light at the Long Mile junction.

He broke another red light at the Naas Road, and three more, including two pedestrian lights in Ballyfermot.

He continued to Kennelsfort Road Upper, broke another red light, and almost crashed into a car on the Chapelizod bypass.

He had a passenger in the car and then drove to Knockmaroon Road and stopped at the closed gates of Phoenix Park, where he abandoned the car and fled.

He was caught nearby shortly after.

Gardaí brought his car to Crumlin Garda Station, where cocaine worth €3,700 was found in wraps inside a sock, kept in the air vent on the driver's side.

Stokes' DNA was also found on the sock.

He provided a urine sample, which resulted in 59mg of alcohol per 100ml of urine, which was over the limit.

Gardaí said he was "fully cooperative" and "a pleasure to deal with".

Stokes pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cocaine and having the drug for sale or supply.

He also admitted driving while over the alcohol limit and four counts of dangerous driving during the pursuit from the Naas Road to the Phoenix Park.

The ex-Premier League player admitted to not producing a driving licence and not having motor insurance.

He also admitted to possessing 86 illegal street tablets in Cabinteely, Co Dublin, ten days after the traffic pursuit, which he bought in a failed attempt to "detoxify himself" from cocaine.

Stokes originally received a 15-month sentence with a five-year road ban at Dublin District Court on 8 October but was released within a couple of hours to appeal the severity of the sentence.

In the District Appeals Court, the jail sentence was replaced with a suspended sentence and a community service order, but the driving ban remains in place.

The court was told that Stokes had "exceptional talent" and was 14 when he signed for Arsenal but found it very difficult when he retired and developed a cocaine addiction.

Judge Jonathan Dunphy said there were "exceptional circumstances", and he noted Stokes was now drug-free.

He described him as "someone who has a lot to offer once he sorts out his difficulties," but he warned the 36-year-old that breaching the order would trigger a lengthy sentence.