Jay Emmanuel-Thomas signed by AFC Totton after drugs prison term

Convicted drug smuggler Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has returned to football after being released from prison.

The ex-Arsenal and Ipswich Town striker had served more than 10 months of a four-year sentence behind bars, having been jailed in June for masterminding the importation of £600,000 worth of cannabis at London Stansted Airport.

Fans on social media accused Hampshire side AFC Totton of a “severe lack of class” after signing him on Tuesday.

The club was contacted for comment, while the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said Emmanuel-Thomas was subject to “strict” license conditions.

The £600,000 haul of cannabis imported to the UK from Thailand was spread across four suitcases, and 60kg (132lb) of the Class B drug was seized at Stansted on 2 September.

The footballer spent more than 10 months in prison, of which about eight and a half were on remand ahead of his sentencing.

He was released from prison on 9 July with “strict conditions”, the MoJ told the BBC, including an electronically monitored curfew.

Eligible prisoners have been allowed to leave prison after serving 40% of their term, under rules introduced by the Labour government.

Emmanuel-Thomas made his debut for AFC Totton in a pre-season victory over Weymouth FC on Tuesday, playing 45 minutes.

Announcing his signing before the match, the National League South club said it was “delighted” to have him on board.

“Jay will bring his powerful presence and exceptional technical ability to The Snows Stadium,” it said in a statement.

The club referenced Emmanuel-Thomas’ “experience” of playing in Thailand, where he met the drug producers behind his smuggling plot.

One user on X said “signing a criminal is absolutely diabolical”, while another suggested it showed a “severe lack of class”.

But others said it was a “good signing” and that Emmanuel-Thomas was a “phenomenal player”.

In a post-match interview on AFC Totton’s X account, manager Jimmy Ball praised Emmanuel-Thomas as “a nice kid”.

“We had a phone call earlier in the week and, remembering Jay as a kid, he was an exceptional talent,” Ball said.

“He’s still got the hunger, he’s still got the desire. He’s a real physical presence with real good technical ability as well.

“[He is a] nice kid and we’re excited to have him here.”

Emmanuel-Thomas was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after he was arrested in September.

He also played for Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, MK Dons, Gillingham, Aberdeen and Livingston, as well as Thai-based team PTT Rayong and England at youth level.

Sentencing him at Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Alexander Mills said he was the “professional footballer who threw it all away”.

“It is through your own actions you will no longer be known as a professional footballer; you will be known as a criminal,” he added.