Ex-rugby starlet, 20, guilty in drugs case

A PROMISING junior rugby player who was on the books of Leeds Rhinos until a horrifying injury blighted his future has been sent to a young offender institution for 20 months after he was caught "warehousing" heroin and crack cocaine for a dealer.

Nytias Jeffers was arrested after the Class A drugs, with an estimated street value of more than 9,000, were found hidden in a toilet cistern at his sister's home in Sandhurst Avenue, Harehills, Leeds, in April this year.

Mark Foley, representing him, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday Jeffers was "an extremely talented rugby player" who had suffered a serious injury at the age of 15 and was told he would never play sport again.

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With the help of Leeds Rhinos, however, and "sheer determination" he confounded the experts and continued to play to under-18 level.

But Mr Foley said there was a limit to the level he could achieve with his injury and because his history was known his leg was targeted by opposition players and for his own safety he had to stop playing.

In spite of his frustration at those events he was still determined to excel in other sports. He had not drifted into involvement in drugs before and on this occasion only agreed to look after the drugs for a couple of days for a 50 payment.

"He now recognises the seriousness of his position in agreeing to do that."

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Jeffers, 20, of Thornfield Way, Cross Gates, Leeds, admitted possessing the drugs with intent to supply.

Sentencing him, Judge Rodney Grant said: "You had a very promising career ahead of you as a rugby player, that was brought to an abrupt end by a horrid injury to your leg and it is to your credit you have managed to stay out of trouble and get yourself back to fitness."

But he said warehousing drugs was regarded as serious because it prevented those actually dealing in drugs being discovered.