Ex-Premier League player and Lincolnshire man both jailed for drug dealing
A Lincolnshire man has been jailed for drug dealing along with an ex-Premier League footballer who bragged about his crimes on Instagram.
On Monday (December 8) drug dealer Allan Barrass, 50, of Main Street, Dorrington, near Sleaford, was jailed, along with Thierry Nevers, 23, of Severn Way, Tilehurst, Reading, after they admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs (Cocaine) in August this year.
Barrass also admitted possession of a sawn-off shotgun at a hearing on November 7.
Nevers was jailed for three years while Barrass was sentenced to ten years behind bars.
Lincolnshire Police say they had noticed suspicious activity in June that Barrass may be a drug dealer. Subsequent investigation identified another man who was making regular trips there from the Reading area. This turned out to be co-conspirator, Thierry Nevers.
In a statement the force said Nevers is a known Instagram content maker, bragging about drug dealing in his videos. He was also a young professional footballer who joined the West Ham academy on a three-year contract in May 2021. His contract with West Ham had concluded before his arrest in August 2025, after he left West Ham permanently in the January of 2024.
Dramatic bodycam footage shows Barrass being arrested by armed officers as he drove to his home on August 6.
A search of his property uncovered a sawn-off shotgun that was loaded with two cartridges in a bag in his bedroom.
Officers also seized 40 grams of cocaine, £5,860 worth of cash and numerous weapons.
The court heard officers found a lock knife under the mattress; an extending baton on a table in the entrance hall and a baseball bat by the side of his bed.
Cannabis plants were also found growing in the garage, say police
Nevers was arrested on August 13 and charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine. He was remanded into custody where he has remained until sentencing.
Police said examination of mobile phones showed contact between Barrass and Nevers and evidence of them selling drugs.
Talented winger, Nevers, also enjoyed loan spells at Reading, Newport County and Bradford City.
In January last year Nevers joined Moldovan Super Liga club Sheriff Tiraspol before signing for Croatian Football League club NK Varaždin in July last year.
Detective Sergeant Adam Petty, of Lincolnshire Police, said after the sentencing: “Drugs have a terrible impact on our communities and will never be tolerated.
“As well as the suffering caused to users, drug dealing brings violence and an uplift in theft offences, and often, as is seen in this case, the possession of dangerous weapons.”