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KENT Police: Two found guilty in landmark case
September 21, 2012, 12:45 pm
Two found guilty in landmark case
Two men have been found guilty of an offence under the Serious Crime Act in what has been described as a landmark case.
View full article on Crime And Justice
Anthony Woodford (23) of Lascelles Avenue, Harlow and David Lewinson (44) of West Hendon Broadway, Collindale, Hendon both stood trial after Lewinson was found in possession of 150kgs of paracetamol and caffeine at Dover Docks on 21 April last year. It was believed the drugs would be used as a cutting agent for heroin. Officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate launched an investigation which identified Woodford as the organiser of the trip.
On Monday, 17 September, a jury found the men guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Though the drugs found are not illegal it is believed that they would go on to be used as blend for heroin, this making their street value in the region of over £5-million.
Detective Sergeant Mat Scott of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate explained the importance of this trial: ‘This is the first time in the UK that a successful prosecution has been made when the drug found has not itself been an illegal substance.
‘The prosecution were able to prove, beyond doubt, that the huge quantity of paracetamol and caffeine were intended to be used to cut with heroin. This has been a successful test case and therefore has set a precedent for this type of offence.
On 20 April 2011, a white Volkswagen Caddy van travelled outward at Dover Eastern Docks to Dunkirk on the Norfolk line. The van, driven by Lewison, then returned to the UK on 21 April. Lewison was stopped by officers from the UKBA. A quantity of ground powder was discovered and later tests confirmed it to be 150kgs of the cutting agent. Following an extensive investigation by officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate Woodford was arrested. Both men were charged in February this year for an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2007.
The actual offence is assisting the supply of class A drugs, full charge woring below:
On 20/04/2011 at Dover in the County of Kent along did an act, namely imported a quantity of caffeine and paracetemol, which was capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of an either way offence, namely the supply of a controlled drug of Class A, namely Diamorphine to another, intending to encourage or assist in its commission CONTRARY TO SECTIONS 44 AND 58 OF THE SERIOUS CRIME ACT 2007
The pair will be sentenced on 19th of October 2012.