Just seven years ago Tony Eccles, who has been jailed for 16 years for raping a young girl, was playing alongside the best darts players on the planet after making the move to the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
It didn't work out for Eccles, known as the Viper on the oche, and with a best World Championship showing in the PDC of reaching the third round, he moved back to rival organisation the British Darts Organisation (BDO).
It was with the BDO back in 2002 when Eccles, born in Middlesbrough in January 1970, made his World Championship bow.
Five years later his fine form on the big stage led him all the way to the quarter-finals at the Lakeside, where he led 3-0 but was eventually knocked out 5-4 by Mervyn King.
He matched his best performance in the World Championships this year, again reaching the last eight but was well beaten by Robbie 'Kong' Green, from Liverpool, who went on to lose in the final.
Away from the television cameras, Eccles won the British Classic title and the Tyne and Wear Open last year and has amassed other victories in Norway, Holland, Sweden and Germany.
He reached the semi-finals of the Zuiderduin Masters in 2005 and the last 16 of the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, both in 2008.
View gallery Gallery: Tony Eccles at court
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The 44-year-old has won more than £190,000 throughout his darts career and was a one-time world number four with the BDO.
He announced his retirement from professional darts after this year's World Championships ahead of his rape trial at Teesside Crown Court.
More on Tony Eccles:
Teesside darts player who raped young girl jailed for 16 years
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