THE downfall of a once promising young footballer reached new depths yesterday when he was jailed for stealing a ring to fund his heroin habit.

Former Newcastle United apprentice Anthony Parry, who was shown the door by the Magpies for drug abuse, was jailed for 18 months by a judge at Durham Crown Court.

Parry, 21, was said to have taken the gold ring from a 14-year-old boy in his home village of Murton, County Durham, in June, to sell to help him meet his £30-per-day heroin habit.

He denied theft, claiming the owner, who was given the ring as a Christmas present from his parents, agreed to let him sell it on the basis that he would buy it back and return it within a fortnight.

But the court heard that the £150 buckle ring has never been returned.

Parry, of Burnip Drive, Murton, who denied theft, was found guilty by a jury following 40-minutes' deliberation on the third day of the trial.

His barrister, Paul Fleming, said the period in custody, since July, has been the longest Parry has been off heroin in five years.

Taken on by Newcastle as an apprentice in his teens, he was thrown out after failing a random training ground drug test.

Mr Fleming said: "Since 1995 he's a young man who, due to his sporting abilities, seemed on the path to a career enjoyed by few, very few.

"It would have brought very great material gains, and an entirely different lifestyle to the one he has had since."

Mr Fleming said Parry, introduced to heroin at the age of 15 by "so-called" friends, would need to satisfy the FA he is drug-free before being able to win back his playing licence.

Jailing Parry, Judge David Bryant said: "You were a young man with glittering prizes in front of you. You were a very promising footballer. That has receded and the chances of you making that career has been destroyed up to now by your addiction to heroin.

"If you stay off it you still might have a chance of a good career on your release."

Judge Bryant added: "It's a sad case and a classic illustration of the damage heroin causes in our society.