Ex-pro footballer mum facing jail time after being busted in airport drugs sting

Posted Friday, August 05, 2022 by Dailystar.co.uk

Liverpool mum Faye Dunn - who used to be a professional footballer from Tranmere Rovers and Leeds United - was arrested at Manchester Airport in June as part of Operation Venetic

Ex-pro footballer mum facing jail time after being busted in airport drugs sting
Faye Dunn pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis and one count of concealing criminal property

A former professional footballer mum is facing possible prison time after being busted in an airport drugs sting.

Faye Dunn, 38, was nicked at Manchester Airport on June 13 during an investigation into the EncroChat messaging network dubbed Operation Venetic.

The Liverpool mum - who once played for England under-19s and had a lasting club career - pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis.

A hearing at Liverpool Crown Court last month also saw her plead guilty to one count of concealing criminal property.

Senior police officers have described Operation Venetic as "unprecedented" with so-called "untouchable" criminals now facing long prison sentences, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Dunn is also the former director of a number of businesses including a restaurant and a kid's play centre (Image: Liverpool ECHO)

Dunn was released on bail following her hearing.

The Liverpool Echo has discovered that she was a footballer and helped England qualify for the semi-finals of the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship.

Dunn, who scored just six minutes into the quarter-final against Switzerland, also scored in a group game against Denmark.

Dunn played at club level with Tranmere Rovers. The box to box midfielder bagged a hat-trick for Tranmere against Southampton during a game in November 2000.

A BBC Sport report from the time reads: "Faye Dunn bagged a hat-trick as Tranmere won 6-3 at Southampton Saints.

"Dunn's sharpshooting tipped the scales in Tranmere's favour on a heavy, rain sodden Testwood Park pitch to which both sides adapted admirably."

She was also sent off for Tranmere during a home game with Doncaster Belles in March 2002.

Dunn joined Leeds United in 2003 and was interviewed by the club ahead of a game with her old team.

She said: "I enjoyed my time at Tranmere and always look out for their results, but I am a Leeds player now and we will all be going out determined to try to get three points for Leeds United Ladies."

Dunn is also the former director of a number of Merseyside businesses including a restaurant and a popular children's play centre.

Dunn, of Walpole Avenue, Whiston, will be sentenced in September.