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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tetra Pak heir case discontinued | Tetra Pak heir case discontinued |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The drugs prosecution of the heir to the multi-billion pound Tetra Pak empire has been formally dropped. | The drugs prosecution of the heir to the multi-billion pound Tetra Pak empire has been formally dropped. |
| Hans Kristian Rausing, 45, who stands to inherit his Swedish father's £5.4bn drinks carton firm, was charged with possessing Class A drugs in April. | Hans Kristian Rausing, 45, who stands to inherit his Swedish father's £5.4bn drinks carton firm, was charged with possessing Class A drugs in April. |
| Last month he and his wife Eva Louise Rausing, 44, who faced similar charges, were given a police caution instead. | Last month he and his wife Eva Louise Rausing, 44, who faced similar charges, were given a police caution instead. |
| The pair, of Chelsea, west London, were arrested when Mrs Rausing was caught with drugs at the US embassy in London. | The pair, of Chelsea, west London, were arrested when Mrs Rausing was caught with drugs at the US embassy in London. |
| It is not a matter in which the court has any control or authority District Judge Timothy Workman | |
| At City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, District Judge Timothy Workman ruled that the matter had been discontinued. | At City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, District Judge Timothy Workman ruled that the matter had been discontinued. |
| He said: "In view of the public interest, I ought to make it clear that the decision has been made by the Crown Prosecution Service, no doubt in consultation with the police, to administer a conditional caution and that has been done. | |
| "The CPS has therefore discontinued proceedings. It is not a matter in which the court has any control or authority." | |
| The couple were arrested in April when Mrs Rausing was found with 10g of crack cocaine and 2.5g of heroin as she entered the US embassy in Grosvenor Square, central London. | |
| Police also found more than 50g of cocaine during a search of the couple's home. | |
| Police review | Police review |
| Following a police investigation, the Rausings were charged with drugs offences on 13 July and released on bail. | Following a police investigation, the Rausings were charged with drugs offences on 13 July and released on bail. |
| But after lengthy talks between their legal team and prosecutors, they accepted a conditional police caution instead. | But after lengthy talks between their legal team and prosecutors, they accepted a conditional police caution instead. |
| The move sparked a review by the Metropolitan Police of its policy of charging people for class A drugs possession. | The move sparked a review by the Metropolitan Police of its policy of charging people for class A drugs possession. |
| Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said at the time: "My own view is that cautioning in these types of circumstances sends entirely the wrong message about drug use and disregards the harm it does to communities." | Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said at the time: "My own view is that cautioning in these types of circumstances sends entirely the wrong message about drug use and disregards the harm it does to communities." |
| Regular drug tests | Regular drug tests |
| But London's most senior prosecutor defended the decision to hand the Rausings a caution instead of tackling them in court. | But London's most senior prosecutor defended the decision to hand the Rausings a caution instead of tackling them in court. |
| Chief Crown Prosecutor Dru Sharpling said the couple must take regular drug tests and attend a four-month rehabilitation course. | Chief Crown Prosecutor Dru Sharpling said the couple must take regular drug tests and attend a four-month rehabilitation course. |
| She said: "The policy and practice surrounding conditional cautions is applied consistently to both rich and poor. | She said: "The policy and practice surrounding conditional cautions is applied consistently to both rich and poor. |
| "In the case of the Rausings, a decision was taken after careful consideration of available material that the conditional caution was a proportionate response to the offending. | "In the case of the Rausings, a decision was taken after careful consideration of available material that the conditional caution was a proportionate response to the offending. |
| "In this case specific conditions have been attached to the order. | "In this case specific conditions have been attached to the order. |
| "If offenders fail to comply with conditions they will be prosecuted for the offence and, importantly, the conditional caution will be recorded on the Police National Computer." | "If offenders fail to comply with conditions they will be prosecuted for the offence and, importantly, the conditional caution will be recorded on the Police National Computer." |