It has emerged that 39-year-old Daryll Hall, sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment in his absence at Leeds Crown Court, on Tuesday (January 7), was a long-standing and well-travelled player in The Northern League up to as recently as last year.
Hall, from Spennymoor, was among the last four defendants with links to a drug and firearms dealing gang from West Yorkshire, to be sentenced.
Collectively, the ten defendants have received sentences totalling 118 years after cases taking place over the last two years.
Hall was said to have been one of the leading “customers” of the gang, regularly receiving consignments of cocaine from a “courier”.
(Image: National Crime Agency (NCA)) Bailed at the start of proceedings, in April 2022, Hall failed to appear for his trial, at the combined court centre in Leeds, in November, having apparently absconded.
A sick note was submitted to the court on his behalf, purporting that he was in Thailand.
Judge Rob Mairs ruled that the trial should proceed in his absence, and upon conviction, for conspiracy to supply a class A drug, a bench warrant was issued.
It remained inactivated by the time of Tuesday’s sentencing hearing at the court, when the NCA confirmed it was making ongoing efforts to trace Hall.
Since The Northern Echo reported developments in the case earlier this week, Mike Amos, the paper’s long-standing former sport and general news columnist, harked back to Hall’s footballing background at lower league level in the North East, in his daily blog.
(Image: The Northern Echo) Among messages received in response was one on X purporting to be from Hall, himself, saying: “Cheers Mike, what a guy,” agreeing that they should at some point meet for a pint at a pub in Spennymoor.
Following a further, less friendly message, Mr Amos said he did not wish to comment further.
In his earlier blog Mr Amos said: “It’s been the most extraordinary day in the blog’s lengthy history: visitor numbers 15 times the norm, more than three times the previous record, a fortnight’s traffic in one mad January day.
“The reason? Yesterday’s blog talked of well-travelled and clearly popular former Northern League central defender Darryll Hall, sentenced to 15 years on Tuesday for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs but now sought across the world after absconding before trial.
“The upshot? New followers,” before listing some of those correspondents.
He also said he could reveal why Hall, “looked a bit rough” in the NCA mugshot, explaining that he had been, “pepper-sprayed to death, tasered an’ all”.
Mr Amos also referred to Hall by his nickname during his football days, of Dash or Dasher.
He also made it clear: “I’ve not the faintest idea where in the world he is,” adding that it may be a while before he enjoys that pint.
In his biography of Hall’s time in the game, Mr Amos said: “He’s 39, has a home in Spennymoor, was a member of the South Shields team which won the Northern League and much else in 2016-17 and of the West Auckland side which reached the FA Vase final, second time in three seasons, in 2014.
(Image: Chris Wood) “West had won a fiery semi-final second leg at St Andrews on April 5 – two late goals from Steven Richardson – played a further 13 league games, nine away, before the end of the month and a tenth on May 2 before the final against Scholing.
“Wow’ says Hall, on X from somewhere in the world, reminded of the marathon.
“He’d also been in the West team at Tow Law, FA Cup preliminary round in 2013-14, which formed the opening chapter of one of those “Road to Wembley” books written by comedian Andy Fury – Hebburn lad, Sunderland fan.
“A giant centre back whose skin glowed bright orange, he seemed capable of anything from the sublime to the ridiculous” Fury wrote.
“We quickly had him marked as a figure of fun for his blatant use of sunbeds but he was a colossus at the back.
“His legs were longer than most trees, either that or he wore the shortest shorts he could find – I suspect it was probably a bit of both.”
Hall was said to have left Redcar Athletic for Northallerton in January last year.
“Both steadfast and dependable” Athletic posted, “a commanding presence in the heart of defence.”
(Image: Peter Milburn) See more crime stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here
Spennymoor drug dealer sent court sick note, ‘from Thailand’
Spennymoor dealer absconded prior to trial for drug supply conspiracy
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“A really good captain and an even better bloke” said Redcar Athletic manager Gary Forster of Hall, who lives in Spennymoor.
Hall was said to have left Redcar for Northallerton Town at the beginning of last year.
In his 30s he also had a spell as a professional heavyweight boxer, gaining two knock-outs.