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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Drug smuggling cricketer jailed | Drug smuggling cricketer jailed |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Former England cricketer Chris Lewis has been jailed for 13 years for smuggling cocaine into Britain. | Former England cricketer Chris Lewis has been jailed for 13 years for smuggling cocaine into Britain. |
| His co-accused, ex-basketball player Chad Kirnon, was given the same sentence at Croydon Crown Court. | His co-accused, ex-basketball player Chad Kirnon, was given the same sentence at Croydon Crown Court. |
| The pair were found guilty of carrying a liquid form of the drug into Gatwick Airport on a flight from St Lucia. | The pair were found guilty of carrying a liquid form of the drug into Gatwick Airport on a flight from St Lucia. |
| Cans of fruit and vegetable juice seized by officials last December were found to contain dissolved cocaine with a street value of more than £140,000. | Cans of fruit and vegetable juice seized by officials last December were found to contain dissolved cocaine with a street value of more than £140,000. |
| Both men had denied a charge of smuggling Class A drugs. | Both men had denied a charge of smuggling Class A drugs. |
| Lewis, 41, of Bruce Road, Brent, north London, claimed to have been on holiday in St Lucia and that he was unaware his luggage contained the drugs. | Lewis, 41, of Bruce Road, Brent, north London, claimed to have been on holiday in St Lucia and that he was unaware his luggage contained the drugs. |
| Kirnon, 27, of Carnegie Street, Islington, north London, was a former London Towers basketball player, who was stopped by customs officers after returning to the UK on the same flight as Lewis, on 8 December. | Kirnon, 27, of Carnegie Street, Islington, north London, was a former London Towers basketball player, who was stopped by customs officers after returning to the UK on the same flight as Lewis, on 8 December. |
| "In a cowardly attempt to evade justice, you each sought to blame the other Judge Nicholas Ainley Test cricketer's fall from grace | "In a cowardly attempt to evade justice, you each sought to blame the other Judge Nicholas Ainley Test cricketer's fall from grace |
| Judge Nicholas Ainley told both men they had been motivated by greed and would be handed the same prison sentence. | Judge Nicholas Ainley told both men they had been motivated by greed and would be handed the same prison sentence. |
| "In a cowardly attempt to evade justice, you each sought to blame the other for a crime you obviously jointly committed. | "In a cowardly attempt to evade justice, you each sought to blame the other for a crime you obviously jointly committed. |
| "Drug smugglers would not entrust a valuable cargo like this to an innocent traveller," he said. | "Drug smugglers would not entrust a valuable cargo like this to an innocent traveller," he said. |
| Addressing Lewis, Judge Ainley said: "You made it to the top of your profession." | Addressing Lewis, Judge Ainley said: "You made it to the top of your profession." |
| He added: "This was greed and I am sure that you ran the risk that you did because you deduced that the risk was worth it, because the rewards were substantial. | He added: "This was greed and I am sure that you ran the risk that you did because you deduced that the risk was worth it, because the rewards were substantial. |
| "You were knowingly and willingly engaged in major organised crime." | "You were knowingly and willingly engaged in major organised crime." |
| Cigarette papers | Cigarette papers |
| Giving evidence in his defence during the trial Lewis said he did not even know cocaine could be converted into a liquid form. | Giving evidence in his defence during the trial Lewis said he did not even know cocaine could be converted into a liquid form. |
| The tins of fruit juice contained dissolved cocaine | The tins of fruit juice contained dissolved cocaine |
| He insisted he had no idea there were drugs in his cricket bag until he was stopped at the airport, saying he thought he was carrying fruit juice. | He insisted he had no idea there were drugs in his cricket bag until he was stopped at the airport, saying he thought he was carrying fruit juice. |
| He also rejected allegations that he had admitted smuggling cocaine on several previous occasions. | He also rejected allegations that he had admitted smuggling cocaine on several previous occasions. |
| The court heard customs officers seized five tins of juice inside Lewis's Puma cricket bag which were found to contain a brown liquid which smelt of chemicals and turned out to be 100% pure cocaine. | The court heard customs officers seized five tins of juice inside Lewis's Puma cricket bag which were found to contain a brown liquid which smelt of chemicals and turned out to be 100% pure cocaine. |
| Traces of cannabis residue were also found in his luggage on a silver grinder and on cigarette papers which were tucked into a paperback book. | Traces of cannabis residue were also found in his luggage on a silver grinder and on cigarette papers which were tucked into a paperback book. |
| Lewis had stated he was travelling alone and that he had packed his luggage himself. | Lewis had stated he was travelling alone and that he had packed his luggage himself. |
| Sportsmen and women who are regularly in the public eye have a responsibility to act as role models Peter Avery, HM Revenue & Customs | Sportsmen and women who are regularly in the public eye have a responsibility to act as role models Peter Avery, HM Revenue & Customs |
| His co-accused was also found with three tins of dissolved cocaine in his luggage when he was stopped by officials 10 minutes later. | His co-accused was also found with three tins of dissolved cocaine in his luggage when he was stopped by officials 10 minutes later. |
| Kirnon said he had no idea the tins contained drugs and the juice was a gift for his mother. | Kirnon said he had no idea the tins contained drugs and the juice was a gift for his mother. |
| The court heard the pair had been acting together to import the "very valuable consignment" in a "joint enterprise". | The court heard the pair had been acting together to import the "very valuable consignment" in a "joint enterprise". |
| Tom Wilkins, prosecuting, said that when Lewis's luggage was inspected, the Puma cricket bag was found to be labelled with Mr Kirnon's name. | Tom Wilkins, prosecuting, said that when Lewis's luggage was inspected, the Puma cricket bag was found to be labelled with Mr Kirnon's name. |
| He said it was the "first of a number of links between these two defendants" and evidence "of what they were, together, up to". | He said it was the "first of a number of links between these two defendants" and evidence "of what they were, together, up to". |
| Lewis verdict 'will deter others' | |
| During the eight-day trial each had protested his innocence, casting suspicion on the other. | During the eight-day trial each had protested his innocence, casting suspicion on the other. |
| Speaking after they were sentenced, Peter Avery, assistant director of HM Revenue & Customs Criminal Investigations, said: "Sportsmen and women who are regularly in the public eye have a responsibility to act as role models and ambassadors for their respective sports. | Speaking after they were sentenced, Peter Avery, assistant director of HM Revenue & Customs Criminal Investigations, said: "Sportsmen and women who are regularly in the public eye have a responsibility to act as role models and ambassadors for their respective sports. |
| "It is therefore even more disappointing when such role models get involved in the criminality of attempting to smuggle Class A drugs into the UK." | "It is therefore even more disappointing when such role models get involved in the criminality of attempting to smuggle Class A drugs into the UK." |
| All-rounder Lewis, who was born in Guyana, played 32 Tests and 53 one-day internationals for England. | All-rounder Lewis, who was born in Guyana, played 32 Tests and 53 one-day internationals for England. |
| He played county cricket for Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Surrey before retiring with a persistent hip injury in 2000, though he rejoined Surrey in 2008 to play in the Twenty20 tournament. | He played county cricket for Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Surrey before retiring with a persistent hip injury in 2000, though he rejoined Surrey in 2008 to play in the Twenty20 tournament. |