This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21192064
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Guns and drugs smuggling soldiers jailed | Guns and drugs smuggling soldiers jailed |
(35 minutes later) | |
Four British soldiers who tried to smuggle guns and drugs into the UK have been jailed. | |
The men, along with a fifth man, were caught after firearms, ammunition and cocaine were found in a car arriving at Folkestone from Calais in January 2012. | |
They were convicted of firearms and drugs charges on Monday after a six-week trial. | They were convicted of firearms and drugs charges on Monday after a six-week trial. |
At Woolwich Crown Court they were given prison sentences ranging from six-and-a-half years to 14 years. | At Woolwich Crown Court they were given prison sentences ranging from six-and-a-half years to 14 years. |
Describing it as "a carefully planned enterprise" the judge said: "The guns were intended for use by serious criminals. They would be used to kill or maim." | |
Drugs in boot | |
The court heard the gang was caught after armed police stopped two of the men in two BMW cars arriving at Folkestone on Eurotunnel last year. | |
Officers discovered five handguns and three silencers, while 500g of cocaine was found in an Army issue boot covered in duct tape and curry powder to disguise the smell. | Officers discovered five handguns and three silencers, while 500g of cocaine was found in an Army issue boot covered in duct tape and curry powder to disguise the smell. |
Detectives believe the guns were destined for criminal gangs in London. | Detectives believe the guns were destined for criminal gangs in London. |
Ringleader Lemar Loveless, 26, of Brydon Walk, Islington, north London, was jailed for 14 years after admitting conspiring to import firearms. | Ringleader Lemar Loveless, 26, of Brydon Walk, Islington, north London, was jailed for 14 years after admitting conspiring to import firearms. |
Lance Laurent, 26, of Gloucester Street, Battersea, south-west London, was sentenced to 12 years in jail after admitting conspiring to import firearms. | Lance Laurent, 26, of Gloucester Street, Battersea, south-west London, was sentenced to 12 years in jail after admitting conspiring to import firearms. |
Both Loveless and Laurent were also found guilty of conspiring to import class A drugs. | Both Loveless and Laurent were also found guilty of conspiring to import class A drugs. |
Trave Dyce, 22, of Sydney Road, Smethwick, West Midlands, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after he admitted conspiring to import drugs and firearms. | Trave Dyce, 22, of Sydney Road, Smethwick, West Midlands, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after he admitted conspiring to import drugs and firearms. |
Romone Mashalleck, 25, of Huron Street, Balham, south London, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail after being found guilty of conspiring to import firearms. | |
Duran Wright, a regimental police officer in the Army, was jailed for 10 years. | Duran Wright, a regimental police officer in the Army, was jailed for 10 years. |
The 28-year-old, of Jerningham Road, New Cross, south-east London, was found guilty of conspiring to import class A drugs and firearms. | The 28-year-old, of Jerningham Road, New Cross, south-east London, was found guilty of conspiring to import class A drugs and firearms. |
Jurors heard Dyce, Laurent and Wright were serving soldiers while Loveless was on terminal leave ahead of his discharge from the Army. |