Footballer is charged with attempting to smuggle drugs worth £600,000 via Essex and denies the charge

Footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has denied charges of importing Class B drugs as he appeared in court charged with attempting to smuggle £600,000 worth of cannabis through Stansted Airport.

The 33-year-old striker was released by Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton following his arrest last month.

The former Livingston, Aberdeen and Arsenal academy product appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court via video link from HMP Durham on Friday and pleaded not guilty to importing Class B drugs.

He, along with co-defendants Rosie Rowland and Yasmin Piotrowska, are accused of the alleged offense between July 1st and September 2nd this year.

Rowland, 28, of Southend Road, Chelmsford, and 33-year-old Piotrowska, of Purves Road, north west London, also both pleaded not guilty when they appeared in the dock.

Emmanuel-Thomas, of Cardwell Road, Gourock, Inverclyde, was arrested and questioned by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers in the city last month before being remanded in custody.

The footballer, who wore a gray prison tracksuit and sat at the court hearing, has also played for Ipswich Town, Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers and Thai club PTT Rayong.

His arrest came after the NCA seized an estimated £600,000 of the Class B drug as it was being smuggled through Stansted on September 2.

Border guards discovered about 60kg of the drug in two suitcases that arrived on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand.

The hearing is expected to last five to seven days and will take place at a date to be determined. Another case management hearing is scheduled for January 6.

Judge Christopher Morgan remanded Emmanuel-Thomas in custody and released Rowland and Piotrowska on bail until then.

He said the trial could tentatively take place in May.