Wednesday 19 July 2017

Ex-Arsenal player Christian Toonga gets nearly 3 yrs in jail for drug dealings


British professional footballer and former Arsenal youth player, Christian Toonga, has been jailed for two and a half years for playing a significant role in selling heroin and cocaine for a gang of drug dealers. The 19-year-old footballer who was arrested at a property in Sherborne, Wiltshire, last year, claimed he was pressured into working for the Custom House gang. According to the Sun UK, he was part of so called ‘cuckooing’ operation where gangs set up shop in the homes of vulnerable individuals.
The young footballer was said to have helped in moving gang members into the home of a woman who felt powerless to resist them. Appearing before the Snaresbrook Crown Court today, the midfielder said he was approached while playing for League One team AFC Wimbledon and felt he had no choice to because he felt ‘threatened.'
Police raided the property in School View Close, Sherborne on 1 June 2016 where they arrested Toonga, the court heard. He was caught with three wraps of cocaine, 29 wraps of heroin, £700 and mobile phones with text messages ‘demonstrating his considerable involvement.’
One message sent by Toonga read: ‘I will do the bagging up.’
Prosecutor Tom Edwards said Toonga was fully aware of the details of the operation, adding: ‘Clearly this is a case of cuckooing where a house is occupied.
‘Certainly, he had a managing function within the chain, motivated by his financial gain.’
Toonga admitted to possessing with intent to supply class A drugs on 7 February, and he was also charged with failing to surrender to police after he was bailed. He had broken his leg in November 2016 and ‘forgot’ about going to the police station, the court heard. A further court hearing was set earlier in the year to determine his specific involvement in the drugs operation before he sentencing.
In giving evidence, Toonga told the court his leg was broken by gang members furious at him for admitting involvement.
But Judge Murray Shanks said Toonga ‘did not put any flesh on the bone’ and gave ‘unconvincing evidence’.
You are not telling the truth,’ he said.
Judge Shanks said he also did not believe Toonga was forced to join the gang.
John Mitchell, defending, said: ‘This is a young man who had fallen out of his football career and sadly became involved in drugs .
But he is definitely at the bottom of the tree in terms of his involvement and responsibility.
‘Those of us, such as myself and his mother and brother here today are anxious to get him back involved in the community and in football. ‘He has a real skill. He has a real spark.’
Judge Shanks told Toonga: ‘I have concluded that your role was significant and you were motivated by financial gain.
‘This was ordinary street level dealing. There were numerous messages to people offering to sell drugs. Those messages demonstrate your involvement.'
‘It does seem to me that you were more than likely a gang member. ‘You are known to have associated with the Custom House gang and you accept that at the time of the arrest you were dealing for a gang member. ‘Your presence at the home was not explained, but I am satisfied that the premises was being used to sell drugs,' she said
Adding that ‘You did look set to enjoy a footballing career, but that was halted with these actions. ‘I am of the view that these offences are so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence is suitable.’
Toonga, who was joined in the court by mom and brother sat expressionless as the sentence was passed. He started his youth career in 2005 at Arsenal football club before moving to Southampton and Cardiff City. In 2015, he signed for senior team AFC Wimbledon and left in 2016 by mutual consent.

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