A FORMER Swindon Town youth star got involved in dealing cocaine in order to pay off drug and gambling debts, a court heard.

Kyle Rigley, 28, who was signed as a child but whose promising footballing career ended when he damaged a ligament in his ankle aged 17, was jailed for four years at Swindon Crown Court yesterday.

The Swindon man admitted conspiring with others in his hometown and Bristol to supply cocaine over nine days in late 2018.

Together with Jack Young, he was involved in dealing the class A drug in Swindon in late 2018 – buying cocaine from Bristol suppliers Ashley Hunt and Nicholas Bullock.

Swindon Advertiser:

Kyle Rigley's custody shot Picture: WILTSHIRE POLICE

On October 9, 2018, police surveillance officers were tailing Rigley and his friend Jack Young, 29, after a tip-off.

Rigley went to Young’s  flat in Cherhill Court, Moredon, then they headed to Bristol together in Rigley’s red Peugeot.

As they shopped at Cabot Circus, officers saw Young using his phone at around 6pm, with analysis of call data showing he had telephoned a number linked to Swindon drugs line “JD”.

Young spent £770 on tracksuits and trainers in JD Sports before returning to Rigley’s car.  

The men were tailed to Repton Road, in Bristol’s Brislington suburb, where they waited outside a William Hill bookmaker’s shop.

They were met at around 7.30pm by Nicholas Bullock, who pulled up in a van then carried a shoebox-sized package to the Peugeot. Police noted that as he walked away he was no longer carrying the parcel.

At 8pm, as the red Peugeot got onto Great Western Way from Junction 16, police took the decision to pull the two suspected dealers over.

Swindon Advertiser:

Cocaine found in the red Peugeot Picture: CPS WESSEX

Rigley, behind the wheel of the red hatchback, tried to get away but was rammed off the road outside John Lewis near the Mannington roundabout by a traffic officer.

Detectives found 124g of high purity cocaine in a footwell. They also found parts from a hydraulic press.

At Rigley’s home in Selwood Close, near the Ocotal Way Tesco, police uncovered a crack kitchen, with evidence that someone had been “cooking” cocaine to create “rocks” of crack cocaine and cutting the powder cocaine with another powder to boost profits. He also had £3,000-worth of designer clothing, £355 cash and a hunting knife.

Phone and traffic camera data pointed to Rigley visiting Bristol for a drug deal on October 3. 

Swindon Advertiser:

The crack kitchen at Rigley's flat Picture: CPS WESSEX

Rigley, formerly of Selwood Close, Swindon, but appearing in court via video link from HMP Bullingdon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a class A drug and possession of criminal property at an earlier stage. He had served time in 2014 for possession with intent to supply cocaine and was on a community order when he was arrested in late 2018.

The court heard he had been involved in the latest conspiracy for just nine days, with his involvement precipitated by gambling and drugs debts.

Defending, Don Tait said his client was remorseful and, in a letter to the judge, vowed to turn his back on past bad behaviour.

“He’d run up significant debts in relation to drugs he was using and also in relation to gambling and that was his motivation for becoming involved. He knows he should not have done so. If he hadn’t had an injury at the age of 17 he may have had a bright future,” Mr Tait said.

Rigley had spent almost two years on remand, including during the pandemic when health restrictions have meant prisoners are only allowed out of their cells for 30 minutes a day. He had been unable to see his young daughter and had struggled with his mental and physical health.

He was said to have a very supportive partner, who had attended every one of his court hearings, and the offer of employment with a ground working company. A reference provided by staff at HMP Bullingdon, where he is currently incarcerated, described him as a positive influence on other prisoners and respectful to staff.

Sentencing him to four years’ imprisonment, Judge Peter Crabtree noted Rigley’s remorse and the delay in his case. However, the judge added: “I have no doubt you had an awareness and understanding of the scale of the Swindon operation, after all you had a very important role in it including the activity that took place at Selwood Close.”