Chelsea star's father spared jail in drugs sting

The father of Chelsea and England footballer John Terry was spared jail today for supplying cocaine to an undercover newspaper reporter.

Edward Terry, of Chafford Hundred, Essex, admitted supplying 3.5 grammes of the class A drug to a News of the World journalist, posing as a chauffeur, last November.

But Judge Christopher Mitchell said: "It is a very, very clear case of entrapment solely to create a newspaper story."

Terry, who is in his mid-50s, was sentenced to a suspended prison term of six months at Basildon Crown Court.

He was also ordered to do 100 hours of community service and pay £95 (€113.57) costs.

A News of the World spokesman criticised the sentence and denied that the newspaper had entrapped Terry.

He said: "This disgracefully lenient sentence is a green light to dealers - and will appal every parent.

"If your child was offered drugs such as these, wouldn't you be aghast at such a let-off for the supplier?

"Judge Christopher Mitchell insists that our investigation was 'entrapment solely to create a newspaper story'. Absolutely not so.

"We investigated Terry based on information received. And he was eager to do business."

He added: "He knew where to source the drug, supplied it in 20 minutes and advised on its quality and price.

"Terry pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing not to an offence of possession, but to supplying a seriously addictive and dangerous class A drug.

"He must have been astonished to escape with just a suspended sentence and community service."

The court heard that journalist Dan Sanderson befriended Terry at a wine bar he frequented near his home over a six-week period last autumn.

The reporter struck up a relationship with him, visiting the establishment three or four times a week between September and November 2009.

Prosecutor Paul Scothern said: "Employees of a national newspaper decided to mount what was in effect a sting operation against Mr Terry to ascertain whether he could or would supply class A drugs."

At about 5.30pm on November 5, Mr Sanderson went to the bar with two of his colleagues, who he claimed were his boss and his boss's friend, both multimillionaires.

The journalist told Terry and others he had to entertain the two men, who wanted to visit a lap-dancing venue.

He said he wanted to obtain some cocaine for the men and asked Terry if knew where he could source the drug, the court heard.

Terry made some suggestions, which the reporter was not satisfied with.

Mr Scothern told the court: "Then Terry said 'I can supply. How much do you want?'"

Mr Sanderson said he wanted three grammes of cocaine, Terry assured him of the quality of the product and a fee of £120 (€143.45) was agreed.

Terry asked for a payment for facilitating the deal and the reporter gave him £40 (€47.82).

Terry then left the bar and returned about 15 minutes later with the cocaine and the deal was done in the men's toilets, Mr Scothern said.

Lawyer Neil Saunders, defending, said: "That this journalist acted as an agent provocateur is quite clear.

"Mr Terry would not have acted in the way he did and committed this offence but for being enticed by the journalist who befriends Mr Terry, meets with him on a couple of dozen occasions at the minimum, simply for a tabloid story because of Mr Terry's younger son."

The court heard that the "subterfuge" perpetrated by Mr Sanderson extended to him driving to the bar in an S-Class Mercedes with the two men.

At the bar he ordered the most expensive brandy and a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne.

Unemployed Terry had been at a party that day and had already drunk eight pints of beer before meeting the reporter.

He was described as a man of good character who had been weakened by alcohol and was now remorseful.

Mr Saunders said: "In all those meetings (between Mr Sanderson and Terry) there was never once a suggestion by Mr Terry of drugs or anything unlawful."

He went on: "It's clear he had been out that day and had had a considerable amount to drink.

"Weakened by the amount of alcohol and dealing with someone he thought to be a new friend, he allowed himself to be suggested upon.

"Mr Terry is adamant that this offence was out of character and it was the first time he had been involved in illicit substances in any way...

"He repeated six times how stupid he had been."

He was said to be full of remorse and "embarrassed and ashamed" about the publicity his actions had brought on his son.

Judge Mitchell, sentencing, described the case as "highly unusual" and said Terry had been simply a "facilitator at a very, very low level".

He told Terry: "The offence was effectively created by the actions of a newspaper sending a journalist to effectively set you up.

"This is clearly an entrapment case. The only reason it seems they did this was to create a story because of your family connection with a well-known footballer."