Dublin District Court Judge Grainne Malone handed down the sentence on Tuesday, along with a five-year driving ban. The 36-year-old ex-Premier League player was found guilty of possessing cocaine worth nearly €4,000 and engaging in dangerous driving while over the legal alcohol limit.
The incident occurred on January 6, 2023, when Stokes led Gardaí on a 10-minute pursuit through Dublin, reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h. He broke multiple red lights and nearly collided with another motorist before abandoning his vehicle at the Phoenix Park gates.
Garda Radoslaw Konczewski, who was involved in the chase, testified that Stokes drove at “around 140km/h when he drove through Ballyfermot village.” A subsequent search of Stokes’ car revealed cocaine worth €3,700 hidden in a sock in the vehicle’s air vent.
Stokes pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including unlawful possession of cocaine with intent to supply, dangerous driving, driving while over the alcohol limit, and driving without insurance or a valid license. He also admitted to a separate offence of possessing 86 illegal street tablets in Cabinteely, south Co Dublin.
Defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens argued for leniency, citing Stokes’ struggles with addiction since his teenage years. The court heard how Stokes’ alcohol abuse progressed to cocaine addiction following the end of his professional football career.
Judge Malone noted that Stokes could have faced up to two years’ imprisonment but gave him credit for his guilty pleas. However, she refused to suspend any part of the sentence due to the severity of the offences and Stokes’ failure to pass a recent drug test.
Despite the sentencing, Stokes was released on appeal bail after lodging €1,000.
Stokes, who began his career with Arsenal and played for Sunderland before achieving success with Celtic, had one prior conviction in Ireland for assault causing harm in 2013. The court also noted he had a record of failing to appear in court and has spent time in custody in another jurisdiction.
