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    ‘I’ve always loved my wife.. but it was bad’ – Boxing legend Butterbean opens up on sex addiction in honest interview

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    Roger Black and British relay icons finally receive gold medals… 28 YEARS after controversial race tinged with tragedy

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    Julio Cesar Chavez Jr one year sober after winning fight with addiction and reveals promise to his kids to KO Jake Paul

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    Son of boxing great who was arrested on gun charges and robbed by party girls is fighting Jake Paul

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    World champion boxing trainer and Amir Khan’s former opponent found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine

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    Ex-Premier League star facing 13 YEARS in prison after being accused of smuggling TWO TONNES of cocaine

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    I was jailed for robbery aged 15 before becoming a drug dealer and rapper – but now I’m an academy scout for Arsenal

    JOSEPH BOL has gone from dealing drugs, getting stabbed by rival gangs and spending three separate stints in prison, to helping Arsenal uncover new talent as an academy scout.Bol, 39, has turned his life around, putting crime in his rear-view mirror and excelling as a football scout.Joseph Bol has turned his life around after three spells in prisonCredit: instagram @joeblackukBol is now an academy scout at ArsenalCredit: instagram @joeblackukBol works as Arsenal’s grassroots academy coordinator for East London, helping the Gunners identify the best talent across U9s to U14s level.It’s far cry from what he was doing at a similar age to the youngsters, with Bol being sent to prison for three years at just 15 years old for robbery.He also found himself wrapped up in dealing Class A drugs and ultimately being convicted for that too.Speaking to The Times, he recalled: “I wanted things my mum didn’t deem necessary, like designer clothes, trainers, and that led me down a slippery slope. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”I stopped playing football and I started selling and smoking weed, and then it went on to be more Class A drugs. I was just in a bubble thinking this is going to be my career path.”After being let out of prison for the first time, Bol turned his attention to rap music – amassing millions of YouTube views for his songs about crime.He added: “I came out and got adulation from my peers, it boosts your ego, and I just started rapping about what I was going through. “It was more about selling drugs. We didn’t really have postcode wars at the time.”Most read in FootballBol releases rap music under the name ‘Joe Black’Credit: instagram @joeblackukJoin SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from The EmiratesBol, who recalled taking Maths and English GCSEs in a young offenders’ institute, was still wrapped up in the world of crime for some time.And was even stabbed in the arm and leg while sitting in the front seat of his car by four members of rival gang at one point. But after turning 21 and finisng himself in an adult prison, Bol’s life changed thanks an officer who encouraged him to complete FA Level One and Community Sports Leader coaching courses.He recalled that decision helped him “break the cycle” and he started to volunteer at a local football club when he was released from prison.In 2012 he set up his own grassroots team, AC United, which snowballed into an eight-team club with performances catching the attention of top scouts.Bol continued rapping about his old life at the same time, earning a reputation under his stage name “Joe Black”, and even performed as a support act for hip-hop superstar Rick Ross.Bol turned to football coaching after his release from prisonCredit: instagram @joeblackukUnexpectedly, it was his rap career that helped Bol land his first proper job in football.A standout player at AC United, Clinton Mola, was invited for a trial at Chelsea – with Bol accompanying him to the training ground.Upon his arrival at Cobham, Bol was mobbed by a group of U14 players – including a young Reece James – who recognised him from his music videos.Recognising the sway and impact that Bol had in the local community, Chelsea decided to hire him as a member of their coaching staff.They also signed Mola, who now plays for Bristol Rovers in League One and represented England from U16 to U21 levels.Bol recalled being concerned that Chelsea would turn him away after a DBS check of his criminal history.He said to The Times: “Rightfully so, because there were obviously reservations after what showed up [on the DBS check].“I did a risk assessment and they asked me how I ended up in these situations and what I’d done to change my behaviour to ensure I wouldn’t fall back into those old patterns.”Long story short, I think the years I put in coaching unpaid went a long way to overpower the past. Clinton Mola now plays for Bristol RoversCredit: Rex”They could see I was making a big effort to make a change. I got the role and I was there for just over five years.”From there Bol’s career in football scouting has taken over and he made the switch to Arsenal’s academy in 2020 – where he has been ever since.Working alongside academy manager Per Mertesacker, Bol’s role is to manage a group of scouts and make sure they are always covering all parts of East London.Along his way he has helped unearth and develop some of of the Premier League’s most exciting young talents.Zain Silcott-Duberry, who made his Prem debut for Bournemouth this season, is just one of the youngsters he has had a hand in developing.While 14-year-old Trey Faromo, another Bol has helped identify, is thought to be one of the country’s brightest talents and recently made his debut for Chelsea Under-18.Read More on The SunNow Bol is targeting a spot as the head of recruitment at a Premier League club, but still recognises how far he has come.He said: “I feel proud of where I’m going. It’s good to reflect every once in a while to remember how far I’ve come”Zain Silcott-Duberry is a rising star at BournemouthCredit: GettyBol is rising through the ranks at ArsenalCredit: instagram @joeblackuk More

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    Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over ‘significant role’ in plot to smuggle £600k of cannabis into UK from Thailand

    A FORMER Arsenal starlet has been jailed over a plot to smuggle £600,000 worth of drugs in the UK.Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was arrested after border officials seized two suitcases containing cannabis at Stansted Airport.Ex-Arsenal star Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been jailedCredit: GettyHe was involved in a plot to smuggle £600k of cannabis into the UKCredit: UnpixsEmmanuel-Thomas pleaded guilty to his roleCredit: PAThe drugs, which weighed around 60kg, had arrived via flight from Bangkok in Thailand.It is believed he may have been the intermediary between drug pushers in the UK and suppliers in Thailand and was described as having a “significant role”.Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, has now been jailed for four years after he pleaded guilty to fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of cannabis.Judge Alexander Mills told him he had a “substantial fall from grace”.Read more newsHe added: “It is through your own actions you will no longer be known as a professional footballer.””You will be known as a criminal. A professional footballer who threw it all away.”Chelmsford Crown Court heard the drugs were brought into the UK by Emmanuel-Thomas’ girlfriend Yasmin Piotrowska.She had flown business class to Stanstead Airport with Rosie Rowland to carry put the plot on September 2.Most read in FootballEmmanuel-Thomas was linked to the discovery by numerous WhatsApp messages, voice notes and pictures.The court was told it was “apparent” he had recruited the women, who were cleared after prosecutors offered no evidence in their case.He used his influenced as a professional footballer to sway the two women – offering them £2,500 plus a free holiday to Thailand.After Piotrowska was stopped by border officials, Emmanuel-Thomas messaged Rowland to tell her to “delete everything from our chat if you can”.The footballer then travelled to Stratford, East London, on September 5 and replaced his mobile.He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton following his arrest last year.Emmanuel-Thomas is a former England under-17 and under-19 international.He began his career at Arsenal before playing for various clubs – including Ipswich Town, Bristol City, QPR, Livingston and Aberdeen.The striker signed a six-month contract with Greenock Morton in July.David Philips, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “Organised crime groups make significant profits by trafficking and selling perceived high-quality cannabis legally grown in the US, Canada and Thailand illegally in the UK.”Organised criminals like Emmanuel-Thomas can be very persuasive and offer payment to couriers. But the risk of getting caught is very high and it simply isn’t worth it.”Emmanuel-Thomas is the latest Brit to be caught smuggling drugs.The Sun revealed how Cameron Bradford, 21, is being detained in Germany for allegedly hiding cannabis in her bags on a flight from Thailand.A British OnlyFans model was also caught allegedly smuggling nearly £200,000 worth of Thai cannabis into Spain.Read More on The SunElsewhere, Brit Bella May Culley, 18, sparked a massive international search operation in early May after she was reported missing while holidaying in Thailand.However, it was later revealed that the teen, from Billingham, County Durham, had been arrested 4,000 miles away on drug offences in Georgia.The footballer was arrested last SeptemberCredit: InstagramNCA officers found the drugs in two suitcasesCredit: UnpixsEmmanuel-Thomas previously played for AberdeenCredit: PA More