Ex-National League player faces 11 years in jail for drug dealing offences

Ex-National League player Rory McAuley faces up to 11 years in jail for drug dealing offences say reports emerging this week.

The former King’s Lynn Town footballer, who had his contract terminated in September, is looking at time behind bars after being caught with half a kilo of cocaine.

McAuley, 31, of George Fox Way, Norwich, pleaded guilty last October to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possessing cocaine with intent to supply and possession of criminal property, say Eastern Daily Press. 

A hearing at Norwich Court Crown earlier this week was told he will be sentenced later this year for the offences that involve a “not an insignificant quality of class A drugs, sold over a period of time for personal gain”.

Stephen Spence, prosecuting, said: “He was found with half a kilo of cocaine on the day of his arrest and there are several days worth of text messages which we say are indicative of dealing on previous occasions.

“Of course, whilst Mr McAuley alone knows what the sort of quantities involved were, the crown would suggest similar quantities, but even if you pared it right back to perhaps only 100g on each of those occasions one would still have half a kilo.”

The court had been told that the prosecution and defence disagree on how the footballer should be sentenced, with prosecution arguing that his offences fall into category two which carries an indicative starting point of 11 years in prison, while the defence say they fall into category three which carries a lesser sentence.

McAuley’s barrister, Jenni Dempster, said there was “no direct evidence whatsoever of the quantities of drugs involved” in relation to text messages.

The footballer appeared in court with co-accused Ismail Thompson, 29, of Harsnett Close, Norwich, who has pleaded guilty to charges of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possessing cocaine.

A third defendant, Andrew Wallace, 34, of Fakenham Road, Great Witchingham, admitted charges including the supply of cocaine and possessing cocaine and cannabis, but failed to turn up to the court case.

Judge Anthony Bate adjourned the sentencing until the 24th of March 2022.

McAuley was suspended from all football-related activities at King’s Lynn Town in June 2021 following his arrest, before leaving the Linnets in September and joined up with Southern League Division One Central
outfit Bedford Town.

EAGLES WELCOME MCAULEY SIGNING

National League Defender signs for the club.

Bedford Town Football Club is delighted to welcome the signing of @mcauley_rory .

Full story 👇https://t.co/ew10uAG76U pic.twitter.com/ynrsADSBIE

— 🦅 Bedford Town Football Club 🦅 (@BedfordTown) September 23, 2021

In a statement on the club’s website, Setchell described McAuley as a “marquee signing”.

He added: “He hopefully will be one of the missing ingredients we have been looking for.

“He is a quality player, who is more than capable of playing at a higher level. Hopefully he will help us to go to the next level too.

“He knows Pedz (Alex Street) from his time at Lynn, and I’m hoping these two will reinforce our spine, making us stronger and adding great leadership between the two of them.”

Hell of a season. Can’t wait to see what the next one brings ❤️ pic.twitter.com/QszDRulfH0

— Rory McAuley (@mcauley_rory) July 23, 2020

In 2019, he gave an interview, stating there was points where he wondered if he’d ever enjoy football again after a tough time in life.

On the 8th of January 8 in 2017, the defender’s life – and his family’s – changed forever.

McAuley, who spoke honestly, said he and his mum discovered his sister’s lifeless body. A mum of two young boys, she had been murdered by her partner in their flat.

The details were too horrific to detail but McAuley wants this to be a story looking forward.

“It was a real traumatic experience,” McAuley says. “I was the one who first found her so I came off really bad. I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress – like soldiers when they come back from war – and I developed anxiety and depression – things I’d never had in my life before so I didn’t know what was going on. It’s real cliché, but Saturday afternoons and training, being with the boys, was something to get me back on track because I started to go down the wrong path for a little bit. I’d wallow in my own self-pity, but football got me back on track.”

McAuley said his girlfriend at the time was his backbone along with their two children.

Football gave him that release and a place to escape to. “I remember the first game back playing after it had all happened,” he says. “I was at Lowestoft and we played Harlow away. We won 2-1. I went in the changing room afterwards and cried my heart out. The boys came and gave me a cuddle.

“It’s those things, just to know everybody was supporting me and behind me, helped get my head back on track and to where I am now. I didn’t think that would be possible a year ago.

“I was in a dark place but now I’ve found peace in life and contentment. I’ve got my kids, my missus, we’re moving house – everything has fallen back into place and I couldn’t be happier.”

The family have previously been pushing for changes in the law for domestic violence victims, and raised money for a local charity whilst also donating toys.

McAuley said his battle with mental health has also changed his own outlook.

“Going through life you hear about people with depression, anxiety and these sort of things,” he says. “You understand to a certain degree, but until it happens to you, you never fully understand.

“It’s given me an appreciation for other people who go through mental health problems. I’ve played in some charity games for Squeeze Football (a Twitter account that celebrates grassroots football in the east while raising mental health awareness) and as a family we’ve raised thousands of pounds for a domestic violence charity in Norwich called Leeway – who help women get away from domestically violent partners.

“The only way I can see it is to turn a negative into a positive. If not it will eat you up. If something bad happens, you have to make something good out of it because if not you’ll be consumed by your own grief. So that’s what we’re trying to do. Focus on stuff that helps other people and brings joy – and I suppose that helps me as well, in a selfish way.”