Early release for jailed Toon flop Ranger
EX-UNITED FORWARD TO REJOIN SOUTHEND TRAINING
Reporter FORMER Newcastle United striker Nile Ranger has been released from prison after little more than 10 weeks of his eight-month sentence.
The 26-year-old was ordered to serve eight months behind bars after he admitted online banking fraud.
Ranger is to return to Southend United for training ahead of his reintegration into the squad.
The League One club said he had been granted early release after “consistently excellent behaviour” while inside.
Ranger was sentenced in May after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud by obtaining bank details and money.
Wood Green Crown Court heard his scam caused one woman to lose more than £2,000.
A statement published on southendunited.co.uk read: “Nile Ranger was this morning [Friday] released from Pentonville Prison after serving a little over 10 weeks.
“Nile was eligible for early release under the HDC (Home Detention Curfew) Scheme, due to the short duration of his sentence and his transferring consistently excellent custodial behaviour. Nile may regard himself as fortunate but will remain under an evening home curfew for the next five to six weeks. “However, this will enable him to resume training immediately and Nile Ranger is today undergoing a fitness test and assessment that will help steer his training regime over the next seven to 10 days before he rejoins the squad.”
Ranger’s stint at Newcastle lasted from 2008 to 2013.
A promising youth player, he was poached from Southampton’s academy, and impressed during his time in the under-18s side.
But goals were much rarer at senior level, and he left by mutual consent after five years at Newcastle.
He later played for Swindon Town and Blackpool, before moving to Southend United in August.