Boxer jailed for cocaine dealing

Francisco Borg has lost hopes of representing Wales in the Commonwealth Games

A former Welsh boxing champion who had won £40,000 compensation from police for false imprisonment has been jailed for seven years for cocaine dealing.

The judge at Cardiff Crown Court told Francisco Borg, 24, he had "disgraced" his sport.

Last year, Borg won the payout after he was wrongful arrested when he was himself attacked by a racist gang.

The ex-Welsh middleweight amateur champion was found guilty by a jury of possessing nearly £20,000 of crack cocaine with intent to supply.

Borg, from the Butetown area of the city, has now thrown away his chance of representing his country in the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

You have been a most successful boxer, and have boxed for your country and Great Britain but now you have disgraced the sport Judge Neil Bidder QC

The court heard Borg had hidden the drugs worth up to £19,600 in his uncle's flat.

But on a search of the boxer's own flat police discovered traces of cocaine on a knife, chopping board and scales.

Judge Neil Bidder QC said Borg had set himself up as a small-scale drug wholesaler and was in it "for the profit".

The judge told Borg that he had formed the view that he was an "intelligent, ruthless and self-centred young man".

"You have been a most successful boxer, and have boxed for your country and Great Britain but now you have disgraced the sport".

Defending Borg, Mark Hollier said he was "a good man who has gone wrong" and came from a respectable family.

The 1997 attack was captured on CCTV camera

"To achieve what he has achieved in the sporting field required dedication and hard work on his part," said Mr Hollier.

"He had genuine hopes of representing Wales in the Commonwealth Games in 2006 - that has now gone.

"His hopes of turning professional have now also probably gone."

Last year South Wales Police paid Borg £40,000 compensation after he successfully sued for false imprisonment.

Officers had used CS gas on Borg and a friend who were the victims of a racist attack by a gang of white youths in Cardiff seven years ago in August 1997.

The force's chief constable also issued an apology to the boxer, saying "the standards expected of my officers were not met in the handling of this incident".

However, the force did not admit liability in relation to negligence, malicious prosecution or that any excessive force was used in the arrest.

Three white men were convicted of the 1997 attack on Borg and his friend.