95 YEAR JAIL TERM FOR COCAINE SMUGGLERS

27 Feb 2006 09:15 AM

Seven men - two from Derbyshire, two from Nottingham and three from London have received jail sentences totalling 95 years, at Derby Crown Court, after being convicted for their part in a major cocaine smuggling ring.

Their attempt to smuggle 29 kilos of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £1.1 million, into Hull docks, was foiled by officers from HM Revenue & Customs who found the drugs concealed in tar in the tarpods of a highways vehicle. They were found guilty of conspiring to import Class A drugs into the UK contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act. Confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act are now underway.

Kevin Holgate, Senior Investigation Officer for HM Revenue & Customs, said: "We are extremely pleased with the results in this case and the sentences given to those convicted. We will continue our efforts to disrupt organised drugs crime and reduce the availability of Class A drugs by detecting and deterring smuggling attempts and by the recovery of drug related criminal assets."

This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO). RCPO is an independent prosecuting authority, which reports to the Attorney General, and is responsible for the prosecution of all HMRC cases in England & Wales.

Notes for editors

1. Photographs are available on request.

2. Reporting restructictions had previously been in place hence the delay in issuing this news release. The trial concluded, with the final defendant David Owen Rawson being sentenced on Friday, 10 February, 2006) at Derby Crown Court.

3. Details of the defendants and sentences are:

* David Owen Rawson (39) a roadsurfacing contractor from Whitwell, Worksop, Nottingham, received a sentence of 10 years.

* Michael Leslie Woolley (57), a sound engineer from Clowne, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, received a sentence of 14 years.

* Richard Leslie Burr (53), an engineer from Clowne, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, received a sentence of 14 years.

* Karl Nicolas Ward (46), a roadsurfacing contractor from Whitwell, Worksop, Nottingham, received a sentence of 14 years.

* Andrew James Doyle (52), a builder from Islington, London received a sentence of 14 years.

* Michael Paul (47), a fruit seller from Islington, London, received a sentence of 14 years.

* Jason Edwards Robert (33) unemployed from Islington, London, received a sentence of 15 years.

4. The Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was created by Royal Assent on 7 April 2005. An independent prosecuting authority, RCPO reports directly to the Attorney General, and is responsible for prosecuting some of the largest drug and fraud cases in the UK. For further information about RCPO, please contact their press office on 020 7865 5666.

Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Media Relations Team

Website www.hmrc.gov.uk