Jailed Troubled former Rovers player starting 14-year stretch for drug offence

A FORMER Bristol Rovers defender has been jailed for 14 years after being caught with a bag full of the drug crystal meth worth £2.3 million in his home.

- Tristan CORK

Michael Boateng played for Rovers in 2011 and went on to be a personal trainer to footballers including Manchester United star Jadon Sancho.

But after being banned from football for life for match fixing, he battled drug addiction, drug dealing and spent time in prison. In between, he became a high-profile figure in the media talking about prison, rehabilitation and mental health.

Boateng’s life spiralled back down again in 2023, and he started using Class A drugs. Croydon Crown Court heard earlier this month that police stopped him in 2023 and found thousands of pounds worth of drugs.

He was given bail, but when police raided his home on Valentine’s Day 2024, they found almost 20 kilos of crystal meth with a street value of more than £2 million. He was jailed for 14 years last Monday.

The 34-year-old came through the academy at Crystal Palace as a teenager before being released.