Liverpool star’s father gets 4 years for drug dealing

THE father of Liverpool football star Jermaine Pennant was jailed for four years yesterday for drug dealing.

Gary Pennant, aged 44, was covertly filmed dealing crack cocaine and heroin to an undercover journalist, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

Pennant, of Nottingham, whose 25-year-old son Jermaine is a winger for Liverpool, earlier admitted one count of dealing crack cocaine and another of dealing heroin.

The court heard another crack user was paid £2,000 (€2,236) by the News of the World after tipping them off that they could buy drugs from Pennant. Defending barrister Michael Evans told the court: “Essentially, this was a group of people who took drugs.

“He does feel upset about this matter as it has come about because someone has obviously stood to gain financially and Mr Pennant was targeted because of his association with his son.

“He feels that he has let his son down by being in court in relation to this matter.”

Pennant, dressed in a black suit and green and white striped shirt, stood crying in the dock as he was sentenced.

Jailing Pennant for four years, Judge David Price said: “Anyone supplying drugs in this city must realise that a custodial sentence of some length is bound to follow.

“In your case, you had the ability to obtain a stock of drugs at short notice.

“On the evidence that I have heard and seen from the papers, you were willing to sell to all who came to you.”