Two months ago, it was reported that Southend United striker Nile Ranger would face investigation by the Ministry of Justice after he paid tribute to former teammate Cheik Tiote on social media.
Ranger was handed an eight-month prison sentence for conspiracy to defraud by obtaining bank details and transferring money, and law states that prisoners cannot use social media, while phones are banned from use.
The 26-year-old allegedly posted the following picture on his now privatised nilepowerranger Instagram account.
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Weeks later, Ranger has been released from prison and soon updated his Twitter to explain his actions. The former Newcastle striker revealed how happy he was to get out of that 'sh*t h*le' and is ready to return to football.
Ranger, who is currently with Southend after going AWOL during his spell at Blackpool, was found guilty of committing online banking fraud.
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The 25-year-old appeared in Wood Green Crown Court in May this year, where it was heard that one woman had lost more than £2,000 as part of Ranger's scam.
The court heard how Ranger scammed Diane Bloss out of £2,090 in February 2015 after using her bank details to move the money from one account to another.
Ranger, a former England U19 international, was tipped for big things when he arrived at Newcastle United's academy in 2008.
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In 2010, the 25-year-old signed a new five and a half year contract with the Magpies, which would have kept him at St. James' Park until 2016.
Instead, a slew of attitude and legal problems led to Ranger becoming a lower league journeyman after he left Newcastle by mutual consent in 2013.
Loan spell at Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday were followed by permanent deals with Swindon Town and Blackpool followed, before Ranger finally ended up at Southend United, last summer.
Image: PA
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His latest spell in jail was the the latest in a long line of clashes with the law.
In 2013 and 2014 alone, Ranger was charged on suspicion of rape, common assault and twice with criminal damage.
A couple of years earlier, Ranger was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Newcastle town centre and was arrested of suspicion of an assault that left a man unconscious. He was also investigated in 2012 for making homophobic comments on Twitter.
Image: PA
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Southend United today confirmed that Ranger will resume training immediately in a statement on their official website.
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