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Chelsea and England footballer John Terry’s dad in court for selling cocaine

Written by Recorder Friday, 14 May 2010 11:36

The dad of Chelsea and England footballer John Terry has admitted selling cocaine to an undercover reporter.

Ted Terry, 56, was caught on camera handing over the drug at the Unit 4 wine bar in Fleming Road, Chafford Hundred, last November.

He spoke only to confirm his name and address and enter a guilty plea when he appeared at Basildon Magistrates Court yesterday.

The case has been transferred to Basildon Crown Court for sentencing. Defending Terry, Neil Saunders said: “He went through with this after it was initiated by a reporter looking for a story.

“He’s embarrassed for the upset it’s caused for his son and that’s the reason he was targeted.”

Terry was caught out by a News of the World reporter posing as a chauffeur for a rich businessman. The video, filmed using a secret camera, shows Terry pocket £120 then request an extra £40 to buy a gram of cocaine for himself.

He tells the reporter it’s “good stuff” and offers to get them a discount from his dealer if they buy some more.

The unemployed grandfather, who lives in Chafford Hundred, also asks the reporter not to tell his boss he had bought the drugs off John Terry’s dad.

Ted Terry admitted supplying 3.5 grams of the class A drug.

Chairman of the magistrates’ bench, John Toplis, said: “There are unusual circumstance here that we have heard, but because this was a commercial transaction this case does need to go to Crown Court.”

He will be sentenced on June 1, less than two weeks before England’s first World Cup game in South Africa.

The case is the latest in a long line of embarrassments for Chelsea star John Terry, who grew up in Barking, East London.

In March 2009, his mum and mother-in-law were cautioned for shoplifting after being caught with £800 worth of clothes and groceries from Tesco and Marks and Spencer.

Then John Terry hit the headlines himself when it was revealed he had cheated on his wife Toni with Vanessa Perroncel, an underwear model and former girlfriend of his England team mate Wayne Bridge.

The centre back, who was named dad-of-the-year last year, was stripped of his England captaincy.

He is set to be part of the final England squad which will head to South Africa next month.