A highly-qualified student with a promising career ahead of him as a sports teacher has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for drug-dealing and handling stolen goods.

One-time Olympic hopeful Stephen Eley (pictured left) was only a few months away from obtaining the qualification he needed to take up an appointment at the Isle of Sheppey Academy.

“He did have all the building bricks to make a success of his life,” said his lawyer Kieran Brand. “That is all likely to be lost as a result of the sentence this court imposes.”

Eley was caught with stolen console games in the boot of his Honda car while parked on double yellow lines in Brewer Street, Maidstone, on December 19 last year.

Dominic Connolly, prosecuting, said the 22-year-old father was searched and a wrap of cocaine and a wrap of ecstasy were seized from his wallet.

Another man was in a nearby shop about to sell stolen games and DVDs for £388.

Eley's mobile phone contained 250 messages relating to drugs, cash and transactions. One asking 'Want anything for the weekend?' was sent to several people.

Mr Connolly said it indicated the commercial sale of drugs. Eley, of Mallard Court, Minster, admitted the games were "knocked off".

He pleaded guilty to possessing drugs with intent to supply and handling stolen goods.

The Isle of Sheppey Academy

Eley, who was tipped as a potential 400m runner in the London Olympics, was in June 2010 given a suspended youth custody sentence for a burglary spree after a judge said he was taking an exceptional course.

Mr Brand said Eley had a first class honours degree in sports science, 17 GCSEs and A Levels.

He was only eight months away from achieving a PhD in sports science, which would have landed him a position in the PE department at the Isle of Sheppey Academy.

“They are aware of his convictions,” said Mr Brand. “The job relies on him getting a PhD.”

Jailing Eley for two years four months for the offences and two months consecutive for breaching the suspended sentence, Judge Charles Macdonald QC said: “This is street dealing with a significant role.”

He added: “I struggle to see any mitigation. You are clever enough to know better. You gave a series of lying accounts. I don’t see any real remorse here.”