CPS News Brief

Soldiers sentenced for firearms and drugs offences

Five men have been sentenced to a total of 50 years’ imprisonment for importing guns, ammunition and drugs into the country. The men were sentenced today at Woolwich Crown Court.

Alison Saunders, CPS London Chief Crown Prosecutor, said:

“This was a carefully planned conspiracy to bring weapons, ammunition and drugs into the UK organised by four soldiers based in Germany and their civilian contact in London.

“The conspirators were first caught with the five handguns and 493 grams of cocaine when Dyce drove off the Euro Shuttle train at Dover in January, but the full extent of the criminality was not discovered until phone data was meticulously analysed and a picture of those involved was created.

“These deadly weapons could have gone on to be used in violent crimes. The 74 live bullets brought in as part of the importation were very difficult to obtain in the UK and were likely to have been sold to the criminal underworld. The high-purity cocaine that was imported had a street value of over £70,000 and would almost certainly have made big profits for criminal gangs while damaging lives.

“CPS London will continue to work with its partners in the fight against gun and drug crime in the capital. Successful prosecutions such as this stop these items at their first point of entry into the country. The sentences handed down today should act as a warning to anyone contemplating such criminal activity.”

Trave Dyce

Conspiracy to import prohibited firearms (guilty plea during the trial): 3.5 years
Conspiracy to import class A drugs (guilty plea during the trial): 4 years

Lance Laurent

Conspiracy to import prohibited firearms (guilty plea during the trial): 6.5 years
Conspiracy to import class A drugs (guilty after trial): 5.5 years

Duran Wright

Conspiracy to import prohibited firearms (guilty after trial): 5 years
Conspiracy to import class A drugs (guilty after trial): 5 years

Lemar Loveless

Conspiracy to import prohibited firearms (guilty plea during the trial): 7 years
Conspiracy to import class A drugs (guilty after trial): 7 years

Ramone Marshalleck

Conspiracy to import prohibited firearms (guilty after trial): 6.5 years

CPS statement on Paul Flattley and Virginia Wheeler

Alison Levitt, QC, Principal Legal Advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions, oversees CPS decision making and all potential prosecutions in relation to the ongoing phone hacking investigations and other related matters. Ms Levitt said:

"This statement is made in the interests of transparency and accountability to explain the decisions reached in respect of cases arising from Operation Elveden, which is the Metropolitan Police’s investigation into allegations involving the unlawful provision of information by public officials to journalists.

"This announcement relates to a file of evidence received from the Metropolitan Police Service. The investigation in this case was overseen by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. A charging file in respect of this matter was received by the CPS on 17 December 2012.

"We have concluded, following a careful review of the evidence, that former Metropolitan Police Service police constable, Paul Flattley, and Virginia Wheeler, a journalist at The Sun newspaper, should be charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

"It is alleged that between 25 May 2008 and 13 September 2011 Flattley, who at the time was a serving police constable with the Metropolitan Police Service, was paid at least £4,000 (in the form of cheques) and £2,450 (in cash) by The Sun newspaper in exchange for information provided in breach of the terms of his employment.

"The information provided included information about the tragic death of a 15-year-old girl, as well as details about both suspects and victims of accidents, incidents and crimes. This included, but was not limited to, information about high profile individuals and those associated with them.

"All of these matters were considered carefully in accordance with the DPP's guidelines on the public interest in cases affecting the media. This guidance asks prosecutors to consider whether the public interest served by the conduct in question outweighs the overall criminality before bringing criminal proceedings.

"Accordingly, we have authorised the institution of proceedings and both individuals will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on a date to be determined.

"May I remind all concerned that proceedings for a criminal offence involving these two individuals will now be commenced and that each has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice that trial. For these reasons it would be inappropriate for me to comment further."

The full charge is as follows:

Virginia Wheeler and Paul Flattley, between 25 May 2008 and 13 September 2011, conspired together to commit misconduct in public office. Contrary to s.1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.