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      Premier League star’s shock after gang take over home he owns & turn it into cannabis factory with hundreds of plants

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      A CRIMINAL gang took over a Premier League star’s home and forced his tenant to let them grow cannabis.The cuckoo-plot crooks left the female occupant surrounded by hundreds of plants.
      A criminal gang took over a Premier League star’s home and forced his tenant to let them grow cannabisCredit: Getty
      The cuckoo-plot crooks left the female occupant surrounded by hundreds of plantsCredit: Getty
      But when police raided the home, the player had to prove his innocence to avoid charges.
      Police also released the tenant without charge after deciding she was set up by the gang.
      A source told The Sun: “This player owns the house in the North West as part of a buy-to-let empire.
      “Another family member manages the properties but they couldn’t believe it when cops found a large-scale cannabis farm.
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      “The plants were taken away and destroyed and the player had to show paperwork to prove that while he was the owner of the property, he had someone else living in it.”
      Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, production and possession of cannabis with the intent to supply is a criminal offence that can result in up to 14 years in jail.
      Landlords who fail to report suspicions of illegal activity can be liable and face the same penalty.
      Rental income could also be seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
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      The number of cannabis farms operating in homes is growing.
      In June, more than 1,000 were raided, with plants worth £130million seized and 1,000 suspects arrested.
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      Single plants are often attributed a value of £840 in criminal trials.
      The National Police Chiefs’ Council has said: “Organised networks involved in cannabis production are also directly linked to other serious criminality such as Class A drug importation, slavery, violence and exploitation.” More

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      Ex-footballer Michael Boateng appears in court over £1m haul of crystal meth

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      A FORMER professional footballer has appeared in court over the massive seizure of £1 million worth of crystal meth.Around 20 kilos of the Breaking Bad drug was found during a Valentine’s Day raid on a flat in Croydon, South London.
      Boateng, 32, previously played for Bristol RoversCredit: Wikipedia/@Oneova
      Former Crystal Palace academy player Michael Boateng, 32, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug – Methylamphetamine.”
      It was one of the biggest ever seizures of crystal meth in the UK and raises fears that the highly addictive drug is taking root here.
      Boateng appeared in custody at Croydon magistrates’ court around 11am today and spoke only to confirm his name, age, and address in southeast London.
      Mr Harris, defending, made no bail application or indication of plea ahead of Boateng’s next hearing at Croydon Crown Court on March 15.
      Crystal meth
      District Judge Dean said: “I am remanding you in custody until then.”
      Right back Boateng was on the books at Palace as a teenager between 2005 and 2007 when they were competing in the second tier Championship.
      The defender went on to play for Bristol Rovers before having spells at Bromley, Sutton United, Newport County and Whitehawk.
      After hanging up his boots in 2013, Boateng qualified as a personal trainer, with Prem stars like Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho and Spurs’s Ryan Sessegnon among his clients.
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      Police said the operation which led to his arrest “was part of ongoing work to disrupt and prevent serious violence in Croydon.”
      A Met spokesperson said: “An estimated £1 million worth of crystal meth has been seized by police after a drugs warrant was carried out at a flat in Croydon on February 14.
      “A 32-year-old man was arrested at the scene and later charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.”
      The explosion of crystal meth in the US was highlighted by the drama series Breaking Bad, in which a science teacher, Walter White, begins cooking the drug to make money after learning he has terminal cancer.
      Until now, its use has not been widespread in the UK mainstream drug culture. More

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      Club apologise for ‘jaw-droppingly offensive’ Murder on the Dancefloor stop sign post of player who killed man in crash

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      A LEAGUE of Ireland club has deleted and apologised for a controversial social media post of a player holding a stop sign featuring the song Murder On The Dancefloor.It had been pointed out the man had been convicted of killing a dad-of-two in a car crash.
      Galway United’s Instagram post image was accompanied by the Sophie Ellis-Bextor hit Murder On The Dancefloor
      McCarthy was given a two-year suspended sentence and a seven-year driving ban in November 2020 after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Andrezej ObalekCredit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
      Tragic Andrezej Obalek died in the crash
      The Instagram post by Galway United to promote a Premier Division clash against St Patrick’s Athletic tomorrow showed Ed McCarthy, 22, holding up the traffic sign.
      The image was accompanied by the Sophie Ellis-Bextor hit Murder On The Dancefloor and a golf club that is used to tee off and hit a ball long distances, which is known as a driver.
      The Moyross, Co Limerick native was 19 when he was given a two-year suspended sentence and a seven-year driving ban in November 2020 after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Andrezej Obalek, 55.
      McCarthy was driving home from a training session with Cork City on February 18 that year at Ballybeg, Buttevant, Co Cork on the main Cork-Limerick road at around 10.40pm and was speeding through bends.

      He lost control of his car and crossed over the divide to the wrong side of the road, hitting the Polish national’s car and causing him to hit a ditch and die instantly.
      McCarthy also hit another car that was following behind Mr Obalek’s vehicle and that driver suffered minor injuries.
      He told a court he “never meant harm to anyone” and “never set out to do anything like that to anyone”.
      During the trial, Judge Sean O’Donnabhain at Cork Circuit Criminal Court read a victim impact statement by Obalek’s sister, Urszula Obalek-Owstrowska.
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      It said: “Andrezej’s death caused a great gap in my life that I cannot fill with anything. I am still waiting for his calls, text messages, full of optimism.
      “You robbed me of this forever. I believe that the greatest punishment for you will be living with the knowledge that you have killed a great man.”
      The judge then addressed the court saying: “I hope the victim impact statement by Mr Obalek’s sister is burned into his brain and he never forgets it.
      “It is a belief that she has expressed to bring out the hurt that she has felt over the loss of her brother.”
      After it was posted, social media users were quick to point out the problems surrounding the image.
      In a post about the picture on Reddit, one user said: “Wow, not a good look at all.”
      Another added: “That golf club is a driver as well. Just jaw-droppingly offensive.”
      On X, one user said: “What would possess someone to think that was a good idea?”
      ‘Tasteless’
      Another described it as “horrible” and “tasteless, from both club and player”.
      The post on Instagram has since been deleted.
      Today, Galway United said it had meant no offence and wanted to “unreservedly apologise”.
      A statement on the club’s website read: “Galway United wish to advise that there was no offence intended by a recent social media post issued by the club and would like to unreservedly apologise for any hurt or distress that the post may have caused.”
      New contract
      Right-sided defender or midfielder McCarthy signed for Galway United in February 2022.
      McCarthy, who previously played for Cork City, Treaty United and Regional United, signed a new contract at Galway United last month.
      He had been named in the 2023 Professional Footballers Association Ireland First Division Team of the Year.
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      Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s 2001 hit Murder on the Dancefloor has returned to popularity after featuring in a memorable final scene in hit flick Saltburn.
      The hit movie, starring Ireland’s Barry Keoghan, tells the shocking story of what unfolds when a quiet young student spends a summer with a rich pal at an English country house. More

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      England ace Jack Grealish due in court this week after he’s caught speeding – the latest in string of driving woes

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      ENGLAND footie ace Jack Grealish is due in court on a speeding charge this week — the latest in a string of driving woes.The Manchester City star’s £100,000 motor was caught on camera breaking a 30mph limit last July.
      Jack Grealish is due in court on a speeding charge this weekCredit: Cavendish
      The Manchester City star has had a string of driving offencesCredit: Getty
      The next month, he was charged with failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver in Wythall, near Birmingham.
      If convicted of speeding, the 28-year-old faces a fine based on his £300,000 weekly wage and up to six ­penalty points.
      The second offence also carries a fine and six points.
      Grealish has a chequered driving history.
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      He got a nine-month ban and an £82,000 fine after crashing his Range Rover into two parked vehicles in 2020.
      He was also charged with speeding after clocking almost 100mph on the M42 when he was with Aston Villa.
      He pleaded guilty to careless driving and was only allowed back in a car in September 2022.
      At the time of those offences, Grealish had six points on his licence from 2018 when caught speeding on the M42.
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      His case is due to be heard by Worcestershire JPs on Thursday.
      His agent said the hearing was a “mix up” and that his partner Sasha Attwood paid the fine at the time of the speeding offence.
      How does Gareth Southgate solve Phil Foden dilemma, with Jack Grealish possibly missing out on Euro 2024 More

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      Ex-Man Utd wonderkid John Cofie who was youngest-ever million-pound footballer ‘raped woman with pal after night out’

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      A FORMER Man Utd wonderkid raped a woman with his pal after a night out, a court heard today.John Cofie, 30, and friend Nathan Stuart allegedly attacked the woman when she was too drunk to consent.
      John Cofie is accused of raping a woman with a palCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Sean McGinty, Paul Pogba, Sam Johnstone, Cofie and Jesse Lingard celebrate winning the FA Youth Cup for Man Utd in 2011Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard how she had met the pair while on a night in Altrincham in April 2019.
      She and a friend visited a few bars with Cofie and Stuart before her pal decided to go home, it was said.
      Jurors were told the alleged victim was then seen “hanging off” Cofie’s arm and “slurring her words”.
      She ended up back at Stuart’s home where she was allegedly raped by the pair.
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      The woman was picked up by her parents at around 3am after they reported her missing when she failed to return home.
      She was “incoherent” and “not mentally alert” at the time, it was said.
      The court heard she had no recollection of the events and was later told by Stuart she’d had sex with him and Cofie.
      She claims she may have been spiked as it felt “similar” to a previous experience as a teenager.
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      The “distressed” woman was taken to hospital after she began “shaking and hyperventilating”, and was told the amount she drank couldn’t explain her memory loss, nausea, vomiting and headache.
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      When she told Stuart how unwell she felt, he allegedly told her: “Well, you don’t think we spiked you?”
      But when she questioned him further, he said they’d had sex and Cofie “was there as well”.
      The woman then told Stuart she wanted to carry out checks with the police, causing him to warn her: “Forget it and move on”.
      After Cofie and Stuart were arrested, they maintained she had consented to the sexual activity.
      Jurors heard officers went through the pair’s phones and discovered Stuart had messaged his footballer pal advising him to “say nada”.
      Stuart, of Northwich, Cheshire, denies two counts of rape while Cofie, of Sale, Greater Manchester, denies three counts of rape.
      Cofie became the youngest million pound footballer when he signed for Man Utd from Burnley in 2007 aged just 14.
      He played alongside Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard but left the club in 2013 when he failed to make the senior team.
      Ghanaian-born Cofie then had spells at Barnsley, Crawley Town and Wrexham.
      He also played on loan at clubs including Sheffield United and Belgian side Antwerp.
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      After hanging up his boots aged 27, he worked at a school mentoring children for a football programme.
      The trial continues.
      Cofie, pictured at a previous court hearing, denies rapeCredit: CHRIS NEILL
      Cofie had spells at 13 different clubs in his career More

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      Harry Maguire’s Greek retrial for assault and bribery shelved for over a year – and may never go ahead

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      HARRY Maguire’s retrial for assault and bribery has been shelved for more than a year — and may never go ahead. The England and Manchester United centre-back was due to plead his innocence this week at a long-awaited hearing on the Greek island of Mykonos. 
      Harry Maguire’s Greek retrial for assault and bribery may never go aheadCredit: Getty
      Maguire spent two nights in a cell after an altercation on a night outCredit: The Mega Agency
      But a legal strike saw it postponed and lawyers say it will now not take place until March next year at the earliest.
      Officials are now said to be reluctant to pursue the case amid fears it has damaged the island’s reputation and harmed tourism. 
      The move to postpone the case prolongs the ordeal for the ace who has vowed to clear his name after his shock arrest in summer 2020. 
      A source said: “Harry has — and always will — contest the charges.
      READ MORE ON HARRY MAGUIRE
      “He was on holiday with friends and family and was understandably distraught. He doesn’t want this hanging over him another day but respects the Greek legal system.” 
      Maguire, 30, was held by police and spent two nights in a cell after an altercation on a night out. 
      He was hauled into court days later and his lawyers were given just two hours to prepare a case. 
      Crucial evidence was withheld from the trial and Maguire was found guilty of bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence.
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      The footie hero, who has won 62 caps for the Three Lions, got a suspended jail term of 21 months. 
      Maguire’s lawyers immediately lodged an appeal — quashing the original verdict — and vowed to return to court to clear his name. 
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      The player later told how the ordeal unfolded as he, his wife Fern, sister Daisy and six others waited for a taxi.
      He said two Albanian men approached Daisy and tried to talk to her. 
      Fern said she then saw Daisy’s eyes had rolled back as she drifted in and out of consciousness.
      Maguire said the group shouted at the men but there was no fight.
      Harry Maguire spoke to the BBC’s sports editor Dan Roan in 2020Credit: BBC
      Harry Maguire during his infamous 2020 interview about the Mykonos brawl
      Harry (right) with sister Daisy Maguire in MykonosCredit: Refer to CaptionHARRY MAGUIRE MYKONOS BATTLE TIMELINE More

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      Premier League facing imminent legal action from top-flight giants over controversial new rule brought in TODAY

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      MANCHESTER City led a failed rebellion against Premier League financial rule changes that split the 20 clubs even further.And the champions – already embroiled in a drawn-out battle over the 115 charges laid for alleged FFP breaches – are now threatening legal action against the league following what was described as the “tightest vote in Prem history”.
      Man City will now threaten legal action against the Premier League over a new rule changeCredit: Reuters
      Prem clubs think the new rule hinders their chance to sign deals to boost spending on playersCredit: PA
      The proposed changes to tighten and speed up the timetable on “related party transactions” – companies linked to club owners were tabled at yesterday’s “shareholder” meeting of the 20 clubs.
      Prem leaders believe the new rules stop clubs from being able to sign commercial deals with companies under common ownership at inflated prices to boost their spending power on players.
      Before the vote, Premier League bosses informed all the clubs that one of their number – believed to be City – were launching proceedings because they argued the new regulations were “unlawful”.
      City, who declined to confirm they were the protagonists, are arguing that the changes are “unlawful” and breach competition legislation.
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      They warned Prem chiefs that would consider launching arbitration proceedings – a legal process questioning the validity of the new rules – if they were passed.
      That led to a clear division between the two factions – just as when proposals to ban clubs from signing players on loan from multi-club ownership sister organisations were defeated in November.
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      City’s overall sponsorship deals total £235m this season and financial backers include Etihad Airways, technology group Etisalat, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Emirates Palace.
      Three months ago, City, Newcastle and Chelsea had four allies to prevent the changes being passed.
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      But it is understood that Burnley and one other club abstained at yesterday’s vote.
      That meant 12 clubs in favour, with six opposed – exactly meeting the two-thirds threshold required for a vote to pass under Prem regulations.
      The spat left some of the losing sides angry and frustrated, with one club furious that the Prem position had “squeaked” through by the minimum margin after the two unexpected abstentions.
      Others were privately pointing fingers directly at rivals and the Prem leadership, claiming the dispute had highlighted “fractured relationships” throughout the League.
      In a statement, a Prem spokesman said: “Following a full review of the existing Associated Party Transactions Rules and Fair Market Value assessment protocols, clubs agreed to a series of amendments to further enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the system.”
      The new regulations will now be introduced into the Prem rulebook for next season but City and their allies may seek to overturn the new position either through a future vote or the legal option.
      It comes with disputes still between clubs on how future spending rules should be drafted, with a possible change in the Profitability and Sustainability threshold and linking expenditure to revenues on the table.
      But Prem bosses did signal a belief that the contentious potential “New Deal” for funding the EFL could be coming closer to an agreement after “productive discussions” including face-to-face meetings between clubs from both leagues on Wednesday evening.
      The spokesman added: “This included plans to move towards a new financial settlement with the EFL and to agree a long-term deal for the good of English football. 
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      “A desire to seek a resolution on remaining issues was reiterated in the meetings, including a commitment to a process and timeline, with the continuation of discussions between the leagues.
      “To build on this momentum, conversations between clubs from the two leagues will now continue over the coming weeks.” More

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      Football yob admits attacking Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka after running on to pitch at Stamford Bridge

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      A FOOTBALL yob has admitted attacking Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka after he ran on to the pitch at Stamford Bridge.Jordan Chidley left the stands during the League Cup quarter-final after Mykhailo Mudryk netted a last-gasp equaliser.
      Jordan Chidley clattered into Martin DubravkaCredit: ALAMY
      The fan was captured goading the Newcastle keeperCredit: ALAMY
      As the clash was about to go into penalties, the 25-year-old then lashed out at Dubravka – intentionally clattering into him.
      Chidley also goaded the Slovakian keeper during the December 19 game.
      After he was arrested, the yob blamed his behaviour on “overexuberant celebrations” after the Blues scored in the dying minutes.
      Chidley avoided jail after pleading guilty to assault by beating at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
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      He was handed a three-year football banning order and ordered to pay £1,215.
      The court was told Dubravka had not provided a statement and “appears not to be too alarmed”.
      Prosecutor Malachy Pakenham said Chidley had clambered down on to the pitch and made a beeline for the Newcastle goalie.
      He added: “The steward tries to grab him, he then puts his arms out and grabs and touches the goalie who pulls away from him.”
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      The prosecutor said the contact was “quite minimal”.
      Footage showed Chidley also pointing in the goal-stopper’s face before running away.
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      His defence said the supporter is “not a football hooligan” and this was a “one-off incident”.
      Sentencing, the judge said: “When I’m sentencing you I’m thinking not only about the offence that was committed, but also I want to send out a message to deter other people from doing something similar.”
      Chidley pleaded guilty to assault by beatingCredit: PA
      He was given a three-year football banning orderCredit: PA More