Swindon, UK – Former Brackley Town footballer Shepherd Murombedzi has been sentenced to more than 10 years in jail after being convicted of leading a major cocaine supply operation.
Murombedzi, 30, of Kidlington, had been a fan favorite at Brackley Town, making 237 appearances across six seasons before his arrest in June 2024. The ex-Solihull Moors and Chester midfielder pleaded guilty at Swindon Crown Court to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possession of criminal property.
Co-Defendant and Drug Network
His co-defendant, fellow footballer Tre Mitford, 30, who played alongside him at Brackley and more recently for Hemel Hempstead Town, also pleaded guilty to the same offenses. Mitford received six years and nine months in jail, with an additional charge of possession of cocaine.
Prosecutors detailed how police uncovered the duo’s drug operation by analyzing phone data from two drug dealers. Evidence showed that Murombedzi and Mitford had made several trips to Swindon, where they were linked to Callum Harvey-McKenzie, 28.
All three men were arrested on June 10, 2024. Police caught Harvey-McKenzie with a kilogram of cocaine, while Mitford was stopped with £22,000 in cash and smaller quantities of Class A drugs in his car.
Police Raid and Luxury Seizures
A raid on Mitford’s residence in Kidlington uncovered cocaine valued between £71,000 and £154,000, along with drug paraphernalia, including digital scales.
Meanwhile, officers attempting to search Murombedzi’s home found him standing naked on a flat roof, attempting to dispose of a phone—one of four discovered.
Police also seized nearly £50,000 in cash, designer clothing, footwear, and Rolex watches worth over £200,000.
Scale of Operation & Sentencing
Phone records revealed that Murombedzi and Mitford had allegedly purchased at least 26kg of cocaine for resale, with transactions totaling over £1.2 million. Messages further suggested Murombedzi was the leader, supplying drugs in varying amounts, from multi-kilo deals to half-gram sales.
Judge James Townsend acknowledged that both men had clean records and had shown genuine remorse, with both working as gym orderlies at HMP Hewell and Murombedzi attending Bible classes.
However, he told Murombedzi:
“You took a leading role in this large-scale drugs enterprise, intending to make very large sums of money… Even on the most generous assessment, the profits would be enormous.”
Despite their past as respected athletes, both men now face years behind bars, bringing a tragic downfall to their football careers.
