Footballer jailed for drug-dealing

Richard Scholtz, who was born in Johannesburg, got a placement at a football youth academy at the age of nine then journeyed to Leeds from South Africa at the age of 15 "dreaming of fulfilling his ambition of becoming a professional footballer".

But his barrister Michael Collins told Leeds Crown Court yesterday that at 17 he was told by Leeds United "you are not good enough" and had to leave their academy.

Still wishing to be connected to sport he completed a two-year course in sports science at a college and was offered a degree place in a sports linked subject at Leeds University but could not take the place up because of identity and visa problems. Having travelled to the UK with his mother he was told at 18 he was no longer eligible to stay on her papers and had to apply for leave to remain himself.

Because all his paperwork was with the Home Office for his application he could not prove his identity to start the course and could not work either.

By 2009, frustrated in all his goals, he began dealing drugs to make money.

A jail sentence would mean his ultimate deportation, the court heard.

Scholtz, 22, of Ferndale Grove, Frizinghall, Bradford, was jailed for 40 months after he admitted possessing heroin with intent to supply and 1,690 proceeds of crime. The drugs were found during a police raid at a house in Little London, Leeds.

Judge Penelope Belcher said he was involved only to make money. "You went into this offending with your eyes open."