Father of Chelsea's Terry admits drug offence

Chelsea's John Terry talks to journalists during a media day at their training ground in Cobham, May 13, 2010.

LONDON (Reuters) - The father of England and Chelsea defender John Terry pleaded guilty on Thursday to a charge of supplying cocaine.

Edward Terry, the 56-year-old father of the former England captain, admitted dealing the drug when he appeared before magistrates in Basildon, Essex, the Press Association reported.

The court was told he had supplied the drug to an undercover reporter from the News of the World tabloid in a bar last November. The prosecution said Terry had been paid a total of 160 pounds in return.

Terry's lawyer Neil Saunders said his client had been targeted by journalists because of his son, and was embarrassed about the upset it had caused.

He will be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on June 1 and was released on bail.

John Terry, 29, who was stripped of the England captaincy in February following newspaper reports about his private life, is due to lead his Chelsea side out in Saturday's FA Cup Final against Portsmouth.

(Reporting by Michael Holden)