Footballer Garry O'Connor sentenced for possession of cocaine

Footballer Garry O’Connor has been ordered to carry out community service for possessing cocaine and obstructing police officers.

The former Hibs player was previously found guilty of attempting to run away from police after they saw him taking the narcotic in a large white Land Rover in Edinburgh City Centre last year.

His trial heard how the 29-year-old tried to mislead officers by telling him his name was Johnstone.

However, he spelled the name "J-O-S" before pushing police constable PC Katherine Eager, 27, aside and running away.

But he was stopped by one of her colleagues just 300 metres away and found to have cocaine with a street value of £450.

On Friday, Sheriff Derrick McIntyre ordered O’Connor to carry out 200 hours of community service.

The footballer’s defence lawyer, Greg Farrell, told the court his client “should know a lot better”.

He said: "I don't think there is anything to suggest it went beyond simple possession. He is a young man, who given his profession had a lot of money and a lot of attention. He is now 29 and should know a lot better.

"He recognises he is a role model for young people and a drugs charge is particularly damaging in his capacity as a role model".

Mr Farrell added there was very little chance of O’Connor re-offending and the case was potentially very serious for his career.

He said his client "has prospects of employment firth of this jurisdiction".

Mr Farrell added: "It sounds like a firm offer to me and he is confident it is going to be concluded."

Sentencing O’Connor, Sheriff McIntyre said: "I would have thought someone in your position, a footballer in the public eye, would have set some example to other people, including your own son."

He warned the footballer any breach of the order could lead to a jail sentence and transferred the case to Haddington Sheriff Court.

O'Connor's lawyers at Bridge Litigation later said the footballer would be appealing against his conviction.

The law firm said in a statement: "He has now instructed an appeal which will seek to challenge the entire conviction from Edinburgh Sheriff Court."

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