A former England youth football player has been jailed for more than 13 years for his role in a massive drugs conspiracy.
Former Liverpool prodigy Jamie Cassidy, 46, was “lured” into crime by his brother Jonathan Cassidy, 50, who claimed to be Mexican drug lord Joaquín Guzman Joaquin Guzman or El Chapo, one of the world’s most notorious drug dealers, Manchester Crown Court heard.
The former footballer’s brother was involved in an international drugs conspiracy along with a third man, money launderer Nasar Ahmed, 51.
Manchester Recorder Judge Nicholas Dean sentenced Jamie Cassidy, who played alongside the likes of Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen as a teenager, to 13 years and three months in prison.
In 1996, their Liverpool team defeated a West Ham United team that included Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard to win the FA Youth Cup.
Cassidy broke into Liverpool’s first team, but injury meant he left Anfield without playing for the first team.
Paul Greeney KC, defending Cassidy, described him as a “footballer of extraordinary talent and promise”.
He said: “At 15, he became England’s top scorer for the Under-16s. The following season he became England’s top scorer for the Under-16s, scoring six goals, three of which came at the European Championships. Scored in.”
“He broke into the Liverpool first team but two injuries completely ruined his career.”
Follow us on Google news ,Twitter , and Join Whatsapp Group of thelocalreport.in
