THE demise of a once-promising young footballer continued yesterday when he was jailed for three years for drugs offences.

Former Newcastle United Youth Training Scheme trainee Anthony Parry was shown the door by the Magpies as a 17-yearold after he failed a random drugs test, in 1999.

The former Newcastle youth team midfield player, signed by Kevin Keegan, and an England under-16 international previously underwent a detox programme with the club's support to combat heroin addiction.

Any hopes of reviving his football career were dashed in November 2002 when he was jailed for 18 months at Durham Crown Court for stealing a ring to fund his heroin habit.

Parry, 26, returned to court yesterday for sentencing after a police raid at his former home in D'Arcy Square, Murton, County Durham, in November.

Heroin, 19 buprenorphine tablets and drug-dealing paraphernalia were uncovered, and Parry had £619 in a pocket.

Steven Orange, prosecuting, said a small amount of crack cocaine was found in a Kinder egg container retrieved from Parry.

Parry told police he injected up to £60 worth of heroin a day and said he regularly went to Middlesbrough or Bradford to buy drugs, selling some to fund his addiction.

Based on his admitted four to five months' involvement, Mr Orange estimated Parry would have dealt in about £16,200 worth of drugs, which he described as, "more than simply low-level activity".

Stephen Constantine, in mitigation, said: "He is an example of a young man who had the world at his feet and threw it all away.

"From having the brightest of futures, his involvement with heroin and drugs has destroyed that future and life.

"He lost his place on a sports science course as his apprenticeship at Newcastle came to an end."

Mr Constantine said Parry hoped to turn his life around.

Parry, now of Burnip Road, Murton, admitted possession of heroin with intent to supply, and possession of crack cocaine and buprenorphine.

Jailing him, Judge Brian Forster said: "Your case should be a lesson to every young person as, in every sense, you did have the world at your feet.

"It is clear you destroyed your life and potential by your involvement in the use of heroin."

The £619 recovered from Parry was confiscated.