Former Reading youth player jailed for drug dealing
They'll spend a combined 13 years in prison
Last updated 8th Dec 2025
A former Reading youth player and a drug dealer from Lincolnshire have been jailed for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
23-year-old Thierry Nevers, who was part of Reading's youth academy between 2017 and 2021 and 50-year-old Allan Barrass, both pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to supply class A drugs in August this year.
Barrass, of Main Street, Dorrington, and Nevers, of Severn Way, Tilehurst, Reading, were sentenced to 10 years and three years in prison respectively.
Barrass also pleaded guilty to of possession of a Section 5 firearm (a sawn-off shotgun) at a hearing on 7 November.
Police 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.
Nevers is a known Instagram content maker, bragging about drug dealing in his videos.
When Barrass was arrested on 6 August (watch the armed arrest video below), a search of his property uncovered a sawn-off shotgun that was loaded with two cartridges, ready to fire which is, plainly, a potentially lethal state in which to leave a gun. It was located in an unsecure bag in his bedroom. Officers also seized 40 grams of cocaine, £5,860 worth of cash, along with numerous weapons. They 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. A cannabis grow was also located in the garage.
Nevers was arrested on 13 August and charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine. He was remanded into custody where he has remained until sentencing today.
Examination of mobile phones which were seized from Nevers and Barrass showed contact between the two and evidence of Class A drug dealing.
Detective Sergeant Adam Petty, who oversaw the investigation, said:
“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.
"We will continue to listen to the public and work with our communities to target anyone dealing drugs. We will persist in using every legal power at our disposal to ensure they are brought before the courts and are held accountable for the harm they cause.”