Ex-Liverpool footballer who played with Michael Owen faces jail over drug conspiracy
A FORMER Liverpool FC footballer, 46, who was once praised by Jamie Carragher and played with Michael Owen, is now facing jail over a drugs conspiracy.
Merseysider Jamie Cassidy, a hugely popular youth player, now faces a lengthy prison sentence for his role in a major drugs gang.
Cassidy, now 46, played alongside future stars Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen while playing for Liverpool's youth team.
The talented group of players defeated a West Ham team featuring Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard.
The final took place a week after Liverpool's famous 'men in white suits' final, when the first team wore the famous Armani knocker for the match. The reds were defeated thanks to a goal by Eric Cantona.
But while Carragher and Owen continued to fulfill their potential, Cassidy's was hampered by injury. After a spell at Cambridge United Cassidy he eventually played non-league football.
In his 2008 autobiography, Carragher said that Cassidy “would have been something of a regular at Liverpool had he not suffered so much from injuries.”
Carragher, who later became a fan favorite at Anfield, recognized Cassidy's lost potential in his autobiography.
The defender wrote: “Cassidy would have been a regular at Liverpool if he hadn't suffered so much from injuries.”
Jamie Cassidy was arrested as part of police's penetration of an encrypted telephone network used by criminals to sell drugs, supply firearms and organize violence.
At a hearing at Manchester Crown Court yesterday, Cassidy pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and to conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert or transfer criminal property.
His brother, Jonathan Cassidy, 50, admitted conspiracy to evade the ban on the importation of Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to conceal criminal property to disguise, convert or transfer.
Nasar Ahmed, 51, pleaded guilty to the same three charges.
Judge Nicholas Dean KC, Honorary Registrar of Manchester, told Jamie Cassidy: 'I am quite sure that after more than three years in custody you are anxious to know what sentence awaits you.
You don't have to wait much longer for that to happen.”
The three men were taken into custody.