CPS News Brief

Men jailed for operation to sell illegal guns and ammunition to criminals

Two men have been jailed today (18 September) after running an operation to sell illegal guns and ammunition to criminals.

Umair Khan, from Birmingham, bought firearms which were deemed obsolete because of their age and the fact that ammunition is no longer widely available for them. 

However he was able to use the dark web to obtain such ammunition to make them fully functioning illegal weapons. Khan also expanded his criminal enterprise by purchasing stun guns, attempting to purchase a grenade and making enquiries about purchasing assault rifles.

Khan was jailed for 22 years when he appeared at Birmingham Crown Court today.

Nazim Hussain, from West Bromwich, facilitated the importation of the ammunition and guns into the UK and arranged safe houses for the delivery of the items. He was jailed for nine years. 

Khan’s activities were exposed when he tried to purchase a grenade from an undercover agent, posing as a dark web seller.

Jonathan Ramsay, of the CPS, said: “Khan and Hussain were responsible for arming a substantial number of serious criminals, obtaining lethal weapons originally designed for law enforcement or the military. 

“The CPS worked to build a picture of the scale of Khan and Hussain’s offending and how they were planning to bring the obsolete firearms they were buying back into full use.

“When presented with the cases against them, both men pleaded guilty.”

Ends

Notes to editors

• Umair Khan pleaded guilty to transferring a prohibited firearm, importation of ammunition, transferring ammunition, importation of prohibited weapons, possession of prohibited weapons for sale or transfer and the attempted importation of agrenade.

• Nazim Hussain pleaded guilty to importation of ammunition and prohibited weapons and the attempted importation of a grenade.  

• Jonathan Ramsay is a Unit Head in the International Justice and Organised Crime Division within CPS.

Hacker who targeted US military systems sentenced

A computer hacker from the West Midlands who gained unauthorised access to data from US military communication systems has been handed a suspended prison sentence today (Sep 14).

 

Sean Caffrey, 25, admitted an offence under the Computer Misuse Act at Birmingham Crown Court in June and today was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

 

The court heard how Caffrey, of Sutton Coldfield, stole usernames and email addresses belonging to more than 800 users of a satellite communication system and around 30,000 satellite phones.

 

The American Department of Defense said the 2014 attack took 50 hours to repair at a cost of more than $600,000 (c. £450,000 at current exchange rate).

 

Rose-Marie Franton, from the CPS, said:

 

“By infiltrating the computer systems of the American military, Sean Caffrey caused an international security breach which cost hundreds of thousands to fix.

 

“Despite his efforts to mask his online identity, the prosecution was able to build a compelling case against him. Faced with the evidence, Caffrey admitted his guilt.”

 

Ends

 

Notes to Editors

·         Rose-Marie Franton is Head of the CPS Organised Crime Division

 

Football fan fined for homophobic chanting

A football fan who shouted homophobic abuse at opposition fans during a Premier League match has been fined after he admitted indecent chanting.

A police officer heard Jason Holmes, 44, from Leicester, chanting a homophobic term at away supporters at the Leicester City v Brighton and Hove Albion fixture on Saturday 19 August.

Holmes was subsequently arrested and the CPS authorised a charge of indecent chanting, contrary to section 3 of Football (Offences) Act 1991.

He appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court today (14 Sep), pleaded guilty to the offence and was fined £300. This fine was increased from £250 due to the homophobic nature of the offending. He was also required to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £30.

Prior to today's hearing, Holmes voluntarily attended an educational session provided by Kick it Out, the campaign against discrimination in football.

Janine Smith, from the CPS, said:

“The CPS takes all forms of discrimination seriously and has an important part to play in eliminating it from football. This offence was treated as a homophobic hate crime and Jason Holmes received an uplifted fine from the court.

“The role of the Criminal Justice System is to rehabilitate and prevent further offending as well as to punish. The CPS contacted Kick it Out about the educational sessions they provide and Jason Holmes was offered such a session to help him understand the full impact of his behaviour, which he attended.

“The contribution of Kick it Out to this case has ensured that, as well as facing the consequences of his actions, this defendant will understand why his actions were so unacceptable.”

Roisin Wood, Chief Executive Officer at Kick It Out, said:

“Through our work with the CPS and Leicester City Football Club, we were able to recommend a course of action which ensured that Jason would understand the full impact of his homophobic behaviour.

“At Kick It Out, we encourage rehabilitation through education for individuals or groups that act in a discriminatory manner, where appropriate. We believe this is the best way to ensure our messages of equality and inclusion are received and understood by anyone who discriminates.

“Over the past few years we have worked with supporters at numerous clubs to educate them on unacceptable behaviour and to understand what impact discriminatory actions could have on fellow fans.

“The sentence handed to Jason is a timely reminder that all acts of discrimination in football are against the law and can end up in banning orders or further prosecution.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

·         Janine Smith is Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS East Midlands

Dealer who unlawfully sold Princess Diana portrait jailed

 

A Cotswold art dealer who stole or unlawfully sold paintings depicting many famous names, including Princess Diana, has been jailed today (Sep 12).

Jonathan Poole, 69, was sentenced to four years in prison at Gloucester Crown Court having admitted multiple theft offences at an earlier hearing.

Over three decades it is estimated Poole, of Poulton near Cirencester, made over £500,000 by either selling artwork he was not entitled to or by taking percentages of the profits from legitimate sales. The stolen artworks had various owners, including the estates of music legends Miles Davis and John Lennon.

Among the paintings he unlawfully sold were portraits of music stars Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr as well as model Kate Moss and Marilyn Monroe. Much of the artwork had been painted by Jagger’s Rolling Stones band mate Ronnie Wood.

The court heard how Poole ran into financial difficulties and closed his galleries in Compton Cassey and Fossebridge, both in Gloucestershire. After the closure, efforts were made to trace the stolen artworks and return them to their rightful owners but some have never been located.

James Ward, from the CPS, said:

“Jonathan Poole was a reputable art dealer who abused his position of trust in the most discreditable way. All of the pieces of art are extremely valuable and there is no doubt Poole was well aware of this.

“Through careful analysis of financial transactions spanning several decades, the CPS built a strong case and faced with the evidence against him, Poole pleaded guilty.

“While some of the stolen artwork may never be recovered, I hope today’s sentence provides some sense of justice to the victims whose trust was breached by Poole.”

The CPS will now instigate proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act in order to recover the stolen funds.

Ends

Notes to Editors

·         James Ward is a Crown Advocate with CPS South West

Paedophile jailed for encouraging rape of a child on internet chatroom

A paedophile from Staffordshire who encouraged the rape of a six-year-old boy via an internet chat room has been jailed.

Philip Crabtree, 35, pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including encouraging the rape, at an earlier hearing in June and was sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison at Stoke Crown Court today (5 Sep).

Transcripts from the chat room during the sexual abuse of the six-year-old in the United States showed how Crabtree encouraged the abuse.

On other occasions Crabtree, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, viewed videos shared by paedophiles of children as young as two being raped or abused.

Laura Tams, from the CPS, said:

“Along with others, Philip Crabtree participated in a chat room discussion and watched on with clear enjoyment while a young boy was raped.

“The CPS was involved from an early stage and built a compelling case against Crabtree, who pleaded guilty.

“Thanks to the co-operation between authorities in this country and around the world, Crabtree has been brought to justice for his actions.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

• Laura Tams is a Specialist Prosecutor with the CPS International Justice and Organised Crime Division
• Another man present in the chat room at the time of the rape, Darren Williams, was jailed for 11 years in July 2017: http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/latest_news/paedophile-who-encouraged-abuse-of-/index.html
• Philip Crabtree pleaded guilty 12 charges at Stoke Crown Court on 26 June 2017 as follows:

-          encouraging rape

-          encouraging the distribution of indecent images of children x8

-          making indecent images of children x3

Jail for Facebook child sex offender

A man who used multiple fake Facebook profiles to blackmail children into sending him recordings of them committing sexual offences has been jailed for 16 years.

Paul George Leighton, 32, of Malvern Crescent, Seaham, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court today (4 September 2017) after pleading guilty at earlier hearings to numerous charges; the majority of which related to the coercion of children through social media. 

These included three rape charges, which the Crown Prosecution Service was able to prosecute even though the offending, which Leighton instigated online, took place in another country.  

In December 2016, Northumbria Police arrested Leighton after receiving information he had been exchanging indecent images via Facebook. During interview he admitted to officers that he had created 30 to 40 fake profiles on the social media site, through which he had incited children to send nude images of themselves. 

An examination of his phone revealed the further appalling abuse of as many as 100 children in the USA and Canada. Leighton’s coercive activity had succeeded in persuading young people to perform sexual assaults and rapes on younger relatives, including the rape of a two-year-old girl by one victim. 

Leighton then threatened to expose those children to friends and family if they did not send him videos of themselves committing these offences.   

He also admitted two sexual assaults of a child under 13, offences which he committed in the UK. 

Gary Buckley of the Crown Prosecution Service said:

“The offences unearthed during the investigation of this case will be chilling reading for any parent. By using fake Facebook profiles Paul Leighton preyed on the vulnerabilities and insecurities of young children, coaxing them into increasingly extreme forms of sexual activity.

“Leighton’s actions were motivated by his pursuit of sexual gratification and, by the very nature of his offences, he has caused significant and lasting damage to the many children he came into contact with.

“The CPS has worked closely with Northumbria Police throughout this complex international investigation, building a robust case that left Leighton no option but to admit to the numerous charges against him. 

“The CPS was also able to successfully prosecute Leighton for the serious offence of rape, proving that he was as guilty in instigating the overseas offending as he would have been committing the crime itself.”  

“This case perfectly illustrates the very real risks to children of sharing images of themselves online and I would encourage anyone who believes they are being targeted in this way to report it to police at the earliest opportunity. Taking swift action may well prevent others from falling victim to similar crimes. 

“It is difficult to overstate the damage caused by Paul Leighton, but it is our sincere hope that the sentences passed today bring a measure of comfort to all of his victims.”

(Ends)

Notes to editors

1. Gary Buckley is the Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North East 
2. Paul George Leighton (dob 02/05/85) pled guilty to:

• four counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity 
• four counts of blackmail 
• three counts of rape of a child under 13 
• three counts of making indecent photographs of a child 
• two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 
• causing a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity 
• assaulting a child under 13 by penetration
• possessing an extreme pornographic image
• possession of a Class B substance
• distributing indecent images of a child
• possession of an indecent video

Internet predator who targeted young girls online jailed

A man from Harrow has been sentenced to 10 years in prison today (1 September) after using social media to target young girls and get them to engage in sexual activity online. 

Derek Hutton used social media platform MovieStarPlanet, aimed at children aged eight to 15, to contact girls and engage in sexualised conversations with them before moving them to platforms with a video function.

Hutton then filmed himself and encouraged his victims to engage in sexual activity themselves or to send him pictures. 

The social media platform continually alerted police to Hutton’s conduct but he avoided detection using fake IP addresses. Hutton had created 407 usernames and approached 3,715 individual users over two years. 

It is estimated that Hutton attempted to engage girls in sexual activity on the platform 500 times, doing so successfully on 250 occasions and inciting sexual activity by a child under 13 on 50 occasions.

Tom Guest, from the CPS, said: “Derek Hutton spent more than two years approaching hundreds of young children on the internet.

“Hutton went to great lengths to hide his identity and avoid being caught, using false IP addresses and routinely wiping his computer history so he could continue his offending.

“The CPS put a case before the court that reflected the scale of his offending, including evidence from social media platforms based abroad, resulting in Hutton’s guilty plea.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Tom Guest is a Specialist Prosecutor in the International Justice and Organised Crime Division.
• Derek Hutton appeared at Blackfriars Crown Court and pleaded guilty to:

            o   causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity;

            o   six counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child;

            o   two counts of procuring the making of indecent photographs of a child;

            o   four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity;

            o   attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

• Hutton received a 10 year prison sentence and will be on an extended licence period of five years. He will be on the Sex Offenders Register and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life. 

Men jailed for smuggling guns into the UK on the bottom of a tourist coach

Two men have been jailed for a total of 28 years today (31 August) for smuggling guns into the UK, using magnets to attach them to a tourist coach.

The court heard that Mark Maynard and Nicholas Barbary worked as a team to bring two sub-machine guns, one of which was loaded, and a loaded Luger pistol from Europe to the UK.

They used strong magnets to stow the guns to the underside of a tourist coach in Europe. They also attached a tracker so he could follow the coach’s journey back to its depot in Coventry.

Both men then collected the guns using a van, securing them to the underside of the van in the same way. They were stopped by police while driving back to Crawley and the three guns, along with a silencer and a package of ammunition containing 13 live rounds for the pistol and 166 live rounds for the submachine guns were found. 

Tom Guest from the CPS said: “Maynard and Barbary used a tourist coach excursion to smuggle deadly weapons into the country. Both engaged in significant planning to carry out this serious criminality. 

“These loaded weapons clearly had potential to kill. The CPS worked closely with Sussex Police to build a strong case against both men, leaving them with no choice but to plead guilty.”

Notes:

• Tom Guest is a Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service.

• Nicholas Barbary and Mark Maynard pleaded guilty to importation and possession with intent to endanger life.

• Mark Maynard received 16 years two months in prison, Barbary received 12 years in prison and both will have an extended licence period of four years.

Man jailed for 22 years for series of sexual attacks in Derby

A man who committed a series of sexual attacks in Derby has been jailed for 22 years today (25 August).

 

Ilija High targeted and attacked women in parks and open spaces in the city.  Forensic evidence linked all the attacks to the same person.

 

High was arrested in early 2017 and the Crown Prosecution Service advised that he be charged with three counts of rape, three counts of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault by penetration.

 

When arrested, he admitted attacking three women and pleaded guilty to all the offences charged. He was sentenced to 22 years with an extended licence period of eight years.

 

Rebecca Edwards from the CPS said: “Ilija High put these women through a terrible ordeal. Thankfully this kind of attack, committed by a stranger, is rare, but these attacks can put the community in fear.

 

“Although High admitted what he had done, the CPS had to put the case before the court in a way that enabled the Judge to determine an appropriate penalty for the gravity of the offending and the threat to the community. 

 

“The CPS and police have worked together to build a profile of the defendant and the impact of his actions on his victims and the community. I would like to thank the victims for their bravery and determination to see Ilija High convicted. They have helped us throughout and it is due to them that High has been brought to justice.”

 

Ends

Notes to editors:

• The attacks took place in the Spondon, Chaddesden and Darley Park areas of Derby.

 

• High was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and will be a registered sex offender for life.

 

• Rebecca Edwards is a Senior Crown Prosecutor from the CPS East Midlands rape and serious sexual offences team.

 

Background:

 

Ilija High carried out his attacks because he was unable to form a sexual relationship with a consenting partner. He admitted in two cases to asking his victims for sex and assaulting them when they refused. 

 

As well as the impact on his victims, the CPS has considered and put to the court the impact on the community. Many local people, including children attending local schools, were fearful that the attacks had taken place in such a confined area and were afraid of their own safety, requiring significant intervention from the police to provide reassurance. This has been communicated to the sentencing court in the form of community impact statements.

 

Following subsequent police investigations and admissions by Ilija High, he has also been charged and sentenced for possession of indecent images of children.

Teenagers guilty of killing man with stolen marine distress flare

Two teenagers have today (24 August) been found guilty of manslaughter after they threw a lit marine distress flare into a car where a man was sleeping.

Their victim, Vilson Meshi, was spending the night in the vehicle outside his partner’s home at Basildon, Essex.  He died from smoke inhalation.

Keani Hobbs, 18, and a 16-year-old youth, who cannot be named, were convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court.

During the trial, the youth gave evidence in his own defence and said Hobbs was responsible for Mr Meshi’s death.   Hobbs did not give evidence but a statement she gave to police, denying the allegations, was read to the court.

 

Paul Scothern for the CPS said: 

“A marine distress flare burns at an incredibly high temperature and the tragic consequences of throwing one into an enclosed space, such as the car where Mr Meshi was asleep, were shocking.

“We were satisfied when reviewing the case that there was sufficient evidence that both were jointly responsible for the theft of the flares and also for Mr Meshi’s death. 

“As there was no evidence of a deliberate intention to kill Mr Meshi, the appropriate charge against them was manslaughter, rather than murder.

“We hope Mr Meshi’s family and friends can take some comfort from the verdicts and our thoughts are with them.”

 

--ENDS--

Notes to editors

 

1. Paul Scothern is a Crown Advocate in the East of England Complex Casework Unit.

2. Mr Meshi was found dead in his car on 27 February 2016 in Pincey Mead, Basildon, Essex.

3. Details of charges against Keani Hobbs and the youth:

• Manslaughter – on 27 February 2016 unlawfully killed Vilson Meshi
• Theft - between 1 January 2016 and 20 February 2016 stole marine hand held flares belonging to Charles Armstrong.

4. The defendants will be sentenced on 25 August

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Gang members jailed for kidnap, rape and knife attack in Exeter

Three members of an Exeter street gang who kidnapped and raped a woman they believed was working for a rival gang have been sentenced to a total of 61 years in custody today (22 August).

Abdiraman Kadir, Abdiraman Abukar and Mohammed Ibrahim were also sentenced for wounding with intent in a knife attack carried out on the same day as the rapes.

Exeter Crown Court heard the men, who were all of Somali heritage, were members of the ‘Chyna Crew’ gang, which regularly travelled from Birmingham to Exeter to sell drugs. They were involved in an ongoing dispute with a rival group over the supply of Class A drugs in Exeter.

On 23 February 2017, the three men targeted a woman who acted as a ‘runner’ for a rival gang and set about humiliating and assaulting her. They made her drink water from a toilet and kiss the bottom of their feet. The trio threatened to set her on fire and stab her before taking her to a second address in Exeter where she was raped by all three men.

The court heard that during this time, the three defendants left the flat where they repeatedly stabbed a man they believed was linked to a rival drugs gang. Their victim suffered serious injuries to his legs and lower body.

A fourth defendant, Amber Olivia, who acted as a ‘runner’ for the group to deliver drugs, was convicted of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply and conspiracy to cause GBH.

Allie Longhorn, of the CPS, said:

“Kadir, Abukar and Ibrahim launched a chilling day of violence in two targeted attacks in Exeter, carefully organised to protect their gang’s reputation. All three defendants denied the offences but prosecutors were able to demonstrate their individual roles in the kidnap, false imprisonment and rape and the knife attack.”

“The first victim was subjected to a truly horrific, prolonged incident of serious sexual assault. It must have been a terrifying ordeal for her and she has shown tremendous courage in not only reporting the incident, but being prepared to support the prosecution and give evidence against these dangerous people in court.

“I hope the significant sentences imposed today are some comfort to her, and demonstrates to the wider local community that the police and CPS take these offences very seriously.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Allie Longhorn is a Crown Prosecutor in the South West.
• Kadir received 23 years in prison.
• Abukar received 23 years in a young offenders institute.
• Mohamed received 15 years in a young offenders institute.
• The three men’s sentences included an offence of possessing a firearm after an earlier incident on 8 February.
• Olivia will be sentenced tomorrow (23 August).

Company director jailed for fraud after bogus pension scheme

A company director who spent his clients’ pension investments on his own lavish lifestyle has been sentenced to six years in prison today (17 August).

Darren Say, an independent financial advisor from Loughton, Essex, launched a pension scheme in 2010 called Noisnep - pension spelt backwards - which he claimed would yield huge returns for his clients.

He told investors, some of whom were his own employees, that their funds would be used to develop a luxury holiday resort in the Bahamas which would be worth in excess of £100 million when finished.

Instead, Say took the money for himself. This amounted to £1 million, made up of his clients’ pension funds and tax breaks from HMRC for which they qualified. 

Chelmsford Crown Court heard at one point there was more than £1 million in Say’s company accounts but when he was arrested in January 2016, all of the money had been spent.

Christopher Tarrant, from the CPS, said: “Say treated the money entrusted to him as his own and spent it on funding his lavish lifestyle including buying a plot of land to build his family home.

“He provided his clients with impressive looking figures which they could look forward to on retirement, despite knowing this would never happen.

“Say denied his guilt but the evidence presented by the CPS meant the jury were sure he had committed the frauds alleged and convicted him.”

Ends

 

Notes to editors

• Say denied dishonestly making false representation to make gains to self or another and carrying on the business of a company with the intent to defraud creditors but was convicted by a jury in July.

• He received a six year prison sentence for fraud by abuse of position and two years for fraudulent trading to run concurrently. He was also disqualified from being a company director for eight years.

• Christopher Tarrant is a Specialist Prosecutor in the Specialist Fraud Division.

Teenager guilty of schoolboy killing in row over girl

A 17-year-old boy has today (17 August) been found guilty of the manslaughter of a schoolboy in a row over a girl.

Irfan Wahid, 16, was stabbed to death on a busy street in Leeds in February 2017.

The jury at Leeds Crown Court heard that on the afternoon of the attack, the defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, went to meet the girl at a bus stop in an attempt to discuss their relationship.

Shortly afterwards, Irfan Wahid got off a bus, intending to meet the same young woman. He discovered her talking to the 17-year-old.

Eyewitnesses described how Irfan lashed out, hitting the 17-year-old a number of times. His killer then pulled out a knife and stabbed Irfan between the ribs. He died later in hospital.

 

Ed Hulbert, from the CPS, said:

“The defendant confronted Irfan with a kitchen knife and fatally stabbed him, despite the immediate assistance offered by passers-by.  The attacker went on to burn his clothes and only gave himself up to the police two days later.

“The CPS was able to make use of a provision which allows the questioning of child witnesses to take place in advance on video, to assist them in giving their evidence.

“Our sympathies are with Irfan’s family.”

 

The 17-year-old will be sentenced on 15 September.

--Ends—

 

Notes to Editors

 

• Ed Hulbert is a Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside

Disqualified driver jailed for crash which seriously injured pedestrian

A disqualified driver who was caught on camera knocking down and seriously injuring a pedestrian in Cardiff city centre has today (15 Aug) been jailed.

Mohammed Yousef Arshad, 23, drove over a pavement in his attempt to get away from police and was driving above the speed limit when he struck John Dare, 45, who was about to cross the road.

He had been driving along Westgate Street on 26 July this year when a policeman in a marked vehicle stopped him to conduct a check after the car triggered his Automatic Number Plate Recognition system. Arshad sped away from the officer, driving between other vehicles to try to escape.

He was disqualified from driving at the time after being caught driving whilst disqualified in 2016. He was first banned from the wheel following an incident of driving without due care and attention in 2015. 

Mr Dare suffered serious injuries including a fractured arm and multiple lacerations.

Leighton Mawer of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “At the time of the collision Arshad was driving on the wrong side of the road.

“Despite colliding with a pedestrian, who was then thrown over the vehicle’s bonnet, Arshad carried on driving in an attempt to evade the police.  

“Arshad shouldn’t have been on the road at all that day but chose to ignore the previous court order banning him from driving.  That decision had terrible consequences for Mr Dare, to whom we wish a speedy recovery.”

Mohammad Arshad was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court to three years in prison for causing serious injury by dangerous driving, four months concurrently for aggravated vehicle taking, four months concurrently for driving whilst disqualified and four months concurrently for failure to stop. He also received a two month concurrent sentence for breach of a community order.

Arshad also disqualified from driving for six years and six months. He will have to pass an extended driving test.

ENDS 

NOTES TO EDITORS

• Leighton Mawer is a Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Cymru-Wales.

• Video footage of the incident has been made available to media on a pooled basis and can be obtained by contacting [email protected]

Three men sentenced for running a cannabis farm in a nuclear bunker in Wiltshire

Three men have been jailed today (11 August) for their part in running a cannabis farm worth £2 million inside a nuclear bunker. 

Martin Fillery, Ross Winter and Plamen Nguyen created a cannabis farm made up of more than 4,000 plants inside a disused underground nuclear bunker at Regional Government Headquarters (RGHQ) Chilmark in Wiltshire, siphoning electricity worth £650,000 from a pylon outside. 

Fillery, Winter and Nguyen locked ‘gardeners’ inside so that they could see to their plants 24 hours a day, with almost every room inside the bunker transformed into a space to grow cannabis or get it ready to sell. The farm had the capability to produce a crop every six weeks.

The farm was raided by police in February 2017 and it is thought it had in operation since 2013.

Amanda Sawetz, from the CPS, said: “This was a high-value cannabis farm hidden from sight in a disused nuclear bunker.

“Fillery, Winter and Nguyen ran a sophisticated operation, visiting at night and having people live inside the bunker to act as gardeners for the farm. Their lighting system alone cost £140,000 and a well had been drilled to provide water for their plants.

“This was an unusual case but the evidence presented by the CPS, following an investigation by Wiltshire Police, saw the three defendants plead guilty to producing cannabis.”  

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Martin Fillery, Ross Winter and Plamen Nguyen all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce class B drugs and conspiracy to abstract electricity.

• Martin Fillery also pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property (money laundering).

• Fillery received eight years in prison and Winter and Nguyen each received five years in prison

• Amanda Sawetz is a Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wessex.