Former Norwich City prospect sold drugs after career ended

Jack Tyrer, 24, began running cocaine to drug users after a devastating injury ended his football career prematurely.

Ipswich Crown Court heard Tyrer once had the opportunity to be a professional footballer for Norwich City, Peterborough United and Colchester United.

• Drug dealers who sold £100,000 worth of cocaine in Colchester are jailed for 38 years

Instead, his injury heartbreak sent him spiralling into a depressive hole of cocaine addiction.

Locked up - Jack Tyrer has been jailed for a multitude of crimes (Image: Essex Police)

Tyrer soon became involved in running drugs as part of Stephen Ford and Kian Rulten’s “F&R” drug line which sold cocaine in and around Colchester to feed his habit.

Judge Martyn Levett said Tyrer grew to become an “essential cog in the chain”.

Mitchell Cohen, prosecuting, said his role was later exposed during a series of drugs busts in Colchester and Mersea in July last year.

He explained Tyrer first became known to police officers after leading them on a drugs-fuelled chase in south Colchester on March 29 last year.

Footballer - Tyrer once had the opportunity to play for Colchester United

“Police officers on a routine patrol in Berechurch Hall Road had their attention brought to a black Saab travelling towards them,” said the prosecutor.

“Officers turned around and required the vehicle to stop but instead he accelerated away at speed.

“A pursuit was instigated; Tyrer went the wrong way round a roundabout on Gosbecks Road, forcing vehicles to take immediate evasive action.

“He stopped in Sutton Park Avenue and made off on foot but was quickly detained by officers.”

Court - Ipswich Crown Court (Image: PHIL MORLEY)

The court heard Tyrer had a quantity of cannabis in his blood and 263mcg of cocaine per litre of his blood, despite the legal limit being 10mcg.

He was also using false number plates at the time.

Judge Levett said: “The manner of your driving could have caused a significant injury or killed someone, it was that dangerous.”

Ashley Hendron, for Tyrer, said: “He should never have found himself in the position he did, nor taken the drugs and driven.”

Tyrer, of The Commons, Colchester, admitted driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to stop for the police and using fraudulent number plates.

He also admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and was jailed for four years and two months.