Former Chelsea Youth Prospect Caught With Cocaine Again

A once-promising Chelsea FC footballer, whose career has been wrecked by drugs, was caught by police with cocaine less than three miles from Stamford Bridge stadium.

Ugandan-born Joel Kitamirike, 33, of Hoskins Close, Canning Town pleaded guilty to possessing a small quantity of the Class A drug in Castelnau, Barnes on August 7, last year.

He was part of the youth set-up at Chelsea, but his only first-team appearance was in a UEFA Cup tie away to Israel's Hapoel Tel Aviv when several first-teamers did not travel because of a security threat.

Defender Kitamirike then moved to neighbours Brentford on loan and had short-lives spells at Mansfield Town and Dundee.

In November, 2008 he received twenty months imprisonment at Ipswich Crown Court after being caught with heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis.

He tried to swallow the drugs when stopped by police, but spat out six wraps of cocaine, one wrap of heroin and the cannabis. He had £344 cash on him and another £2,000, plus skunk cannabis was found at his address.

Westminster Magistrates Court heard his latest arrest was near Hammersmith Bridge and he was fined £276, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge.

Kitamirike also pleaded guilty to obstructing police on the same occasion and for that offence was conditionally discharged for twelve months.