Former Republic of Ireland footballer Anthony Stokes was caught with nearly €4,000 worth of cocaine in his car after leading gardaí on a high-speed pursuit in Dublin, a court has heard.

The ex-Celtic and Sunderland player reached speeds of 160km/h and nearly collided with another motorist shortly after midnight on 6th January 2023.

Judge Gráinne Malone adjourned sentencing Stokes, 36, pending a treatment report to confirm he is no longer using drugs.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to unlawful possession of cocaine, which was hidden in a sock, and to possessing the drug for sale or supply.

The court heard how his issues with alcohol escalated into a cocaine addiction after his football career ended. Stokes also admitted to driving while over the alcohol limit and four counts of dangerous driving.

The former Premier League player further pleaded guilty to failing to produce a driving licence and not having motor insurance.

In evidence, Garda Radosław Konczewski recalled observing Stokes’ car speeding on Walkinstown Avenue at around 12:20am.

The officer activated his patrol car’s lights, but Stokes failed to stop and continued driving to the Long Mile Road junction, "which he entered at speed, breaking a red light."

Stokes continued to the Naas Road, where he broke another red light, and proceeded to Ballyfermot Road, running two pedestrian red lights and another at a junction. The father-of-three continued to Kennelsfort Road Upper, ran a red light, and "almost collided with a car on the Chapelizod bypass."

Stokes, who had a passenger in the car, drove to Knockmaroon Road and stopped at the closed gates of Phoenix Park. He abandoned the vehicle but was apprehended following a brief foot chase.

The pursuit lasted approximately 10 minutes. Garda Konczewski estimated that Stokes had reached speeds of 160km/h at times.

The car was subsequently taken to Crumlin Garda Station, where gardaí discovered cocaine worth €3,700 in wraps inside a sock.

Stokes also provided a urine sample, which revealed an alcohol level of 59mg per 100ml of urine, over the legal limit.

The garda agreed with defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens that Stokes was “fully co-operative” at the station, provided a sample, and “was a pleasure to deal with.”

The court heard that Stokes had one prior conviction in Ireland from 2013 for assault causing harm, for which he received a suspended sentence and a compensation order.

Ms Stephens urged the judge not to send her client to prison, noting that he has three young children.

In her mitigation plea, she explained that Stokes had been a talented footballer, scouted at the age of 14 from Cherry Orchard Football Club in Dublin by Arsenal in London.

The court was told that he began playing for Sunderland at 17, before finding greater success with Celtic in the Scottish league. However, he had struggled with addiction from a young age.

The court also heard that Stokes had reacted poorly to the end of his football career.

Ms Stephens stated that he is now clean and sober and has engaged with an addiction service. The judge noted that Stokes is due to provide a sample later this month to prove that he is drug-free.

The court was also told that Stokes had a challenging start in life, having been adopted by loving parents at the age of two, after his biological mother faced difficulties.

The judge further heard that Stokes had developed a gambling problem.

Ms Stephens added that, after a period of denial, Stokes is now taking significant steps towards “total abstinence” to address the issues that had led him to court. She said he would do whatever it took to avoid imprisonment.

Adjourning sentencing until 1st October for the results of his drug tests, Judge Malone remarked that she took a very serious view of his driving and would hear further evidence on that aspect of the case on the next date.