A teenaged football star who had trials with Arsenal took up a career as a drug dealer when his sporting career faltered.
Bradley Greeff, aged 19, was on the verge of stardom at the age of 15 but left home after a domestic break up and took to drugs after living on the streets.
He dropped out of his training sessions with Arsenal because he could not afford to get from the area where he was living near Heathrow into the centre of London.
He started using drugs and by the time he was 18 he was strong-armed into becoming a dealer in Exeter after building up debts of £1,500 to suppliers.
He acted as minder for their operation, putting addicts in contact with street dealers, and was caught with a £13,000 stash of heroin and crack cocaine, Exeter Crown Court was told.
The Zimbabwean refugee was freed on a suspended sentence so he could try to resume his career in sport as a football coach.
Greeff, of Sipson Road, West Drayton, admitted possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and was jailed for 22 months, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid community work and receive two years supervision.
He told him:"You have had a very difficult upbringing as a teenager after coming here from Zimbabwe and were left to fend on your own devices when you were 15.
"The background of this case is that you met people, as you were almost bound to do when you were homeless and that age, who led you to take cannabis and led you on to class A drugs.
"You built up a debt of £1,500 and by way of paying it off came to Exeter and were taken on as security at what amounted to a warehouse for drugs.
"I bear in mind you have already done five and a half months custody and you were only 18 at the time. You are 19 now and have the capacity for change.
"I hope you will take up the opportunity for employment, education and training."
Mr Nigel Wraith, prosecuting, said Greeff was arrested when police raided a house in Exwick Road, Exeter, where he was found with seven pre-packed wraps of drugs which weighed 130 grams with a street value of between £10,000 and £13,000.
Mr Stephen Dent, defending, said Greeff was coerced into taking part in the operation by threats to himself and his family arising from his drug debts.
He said Greeff's ambition has always been to work in football, either as player or coach, and had been a highly rated youngster.
He said:"He had trials to play for Arsenal but it fell through because he had problems getting to training. He has passed his level two and three coaching courses and wants to continue."
