CPS News Brief

Corrupt NHS official jailed for accepting bribes

 

A corrupt NHS official who accepted bribes of £80,000 in exchange for awarding lucrative IT contracts has today been jailed for three-and-a-half years at Guildford Crown Court.

In a case brought by the CPS Specialist Fraud Division, 56-year-old Peter Lewis admitted receiving corrupt payments. His co-accused, Richard Moxon, 40, admitted giving them and was sentenced to 14 months in prison.

Stephen Rowland, Specialist Prosecutor from the CPS Specialist Fraud Division, said:

“Peter Lewis abused his position for his own financial gain. The prosecution evidence showed how Lewis approached Moxon for a bribe and had the money paid directly into the same bank account as his salary.

“The clear evidence resulted in both men pleading guilty.”

The prosecution followed an investigation by Surrey Police into the activities of Lewis, who was employed by the Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as director of infomatics.

Ends

Notes to Editors

· Peter Lewis admitted one count of receiving corrupt payments at Guildford Crown Court on 21 November 2016. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

· Richard Moxon admitted one count of giving corrupt payments at Guildford Crown Court on 8 March 2016. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison.

Drugs gang jailed after fly-past cocaine drop in Kent

A gang of drug smugglers who successfully plotted to fly cocaine with an estimated street value of over £2.5million into the UK have been jailed today, following a prosecution brought by the CPS International Justice and Organised Crime Division.

Andrew Barrett (16 years), Michael Mealing (12-and-a-half years) and Jonathan Hart (10 years, nine months) were all jailed at the Old Bailey this afternoon.

Mealing and Hart were arrested with more than 32kg of cocaine on 23 June 2016. They collected these drugs from a field near Faversham in Kent where they had been dropped by a light aircraft.

Later the same day Barrett was arrested while driving a white van containing a separate stash of drugs including approximately 18kg of cocaine, 15kg of cannabis and 1kg of MDMA.

The combined wholesale value of the drugs found in the van was over £650,000, but had these drugs reached the streets the estimated value was more than £1.5million.

Adrian Flasher, Specialist Prosecutor from the CPS International Justice and Organised Crime Division, said:

“The prosecution demonstrated how these organised criminals plotted to fly drugs into the country.

“The CPS worked with investigators from an early stage, advising on the strength and admissibility of the evidence and lines of enquiry. Prosecutors and investigators working together have ensured this criminal enterprise was thwarted and justice has been served.”

All three men pleaded guilty to importing cocaine. Barrett also pleaded guilty to possessing drugs with intent to supply and money laundering.

The prosecution followed an investigation by the National Crime Agency.