Wanted British drug lord likely to have fled to Thailand, say UK police

 

Richard Wakeling//File photo

 

A British drug kingpin who is on the run from police in the UK is believed to be hiding out in Thailand.

 

Richard Wakeling, 51, from Brentwood in Essex, was on Monday convicted and jailed in his absence after attempting to import a large quantity of amphetamines.

 

Wakeling fled to Belfast ahead of a 12 week trail where he was to stand alongside three other men at Chelmsford Crown Court.

 

Police say Wakeling, who has one leg, has family links to Thailand and could be hiding out in the country.

 

“We strongly suspect that Wakeling fled abroad, possibly to Thailand were he has strong family links, said a spokesperson for the UK’s National Crime Agency.

 

“But it is likely there are people here in the UK who hold clues about his movements after he arrived in Belfast on 6 January, and I'd appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

 

“He has a prosthetic leg and needs regular medical treatment.

 

“The NCA has an international reach and he should know distance isn't a barrier to us finding him. We are determined he will be returned to the UK to serve his sentence.

 

“Until we find him, he'll spend every day looking over his shoulder.”

 

In his absence on Monday, Wakeling was jailed for 11 years at Chelmsford Crown Court for masterminding the importation of liquid amphetamines which had a street value estimated at £8 million in April 2016.

 

Three other men, including lorry drivers Lesley Muffett, 59, Stuart Davidson, 65, and Darren Keane, 34, were also found guilty of conspiring to import drugs.

 

Keane and Davidson were sentenced to nine and eight years, respectively, while Muffet was sentenced to six years.

 

Police said Davidson and Muffet, both lorry drivers, had been transporting the drugs from Europe.

 

But the entire operation was setup by Wakeling who was in contact with drug suppliers in Belgium and the Netherlands.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-04-10

I hope he is caught soon, when they catch him he wont have a leg to stand on.

Just now, colinneil said:

I hope he is caught soon, when they catch him he wont have a leg to stand on.

It's a matter of 'a-pinion'

 

I hope he get caught soon and we're not left in LIMBo

While there is at least one other drug dealer,on the run

from a jail sentence,but not in hiding,living freely in

Thailand,seems the UK justice system is been selective.

regards worgeordie

21 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

A British drug kingpin who is on the run from police in the UK is believed to be hiding out in Thailand.

Well soon we will have another real estate agent in Hua Hin.....

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

Police say Wakeling, who has one leg, has family links to Thailand and could be hiding out in the country.

Thai Immigration:  "We didn't notice anything unusual"

Police say Wakeling, who has one leg, has family links to Thailand and could be hiding out in the country.

 

     He's hiding with Gangsta Midget...

9 minutes ago, JOC said:

Thai Immigration:  "We didn't notice anything unusual"

Border hopping? 

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

Richard Wakeling, 51, from Brentwood in Essex, was on Monday convicted and jailed in his absence after attempting to import a large quantity of amphetamines.

He wasn't jailed, because he couldn't be "jailed in his absence".  He was sentenced to prison in his absence. The word "prison" is used instead of "jail" when referring to lengthy sentences such as 11 years.  RTP can easily find him in the gogo bars of Pattaya.

Drug dealer on the run...err on the limp.

8 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

He wasn't jailed, because he couldn't be "jailed in his absence".  He was sentenced to prison in his absence. The word "prison" is used instead of "jail" when referring to lengthy sentences such as 11 years.  RTP can easily find him in the gogo bars of Pattaya.

Probably find him legless in a corner.

Why is this a preferred destination for crooks on the run, has it anything to do with the reputation of the RTP?

Easily spotted if he’s at the beach.

OMG this fella won’t have a leg to stand on , cannot be hard to find a one legged man unless he has enough baht to buy his way out of being caught !

I checked all the shoes outside a few MPs today, he wasn't in any of them.

They'll never find him. He's hopped it!

2 hours ago, webfact said:

was on Monday convicted and jailed in his absence

In the UK you serve your sentence while being elsewhere? That's a novel approach to prison overcrowding.

17 minutes ago, HLover said:

Or at a foot massage parlor.

Going in for the Half-Price Special, no doubt.

 

17 minutes ago, HLover said:

Or at a foot massage parlor.

50% discount????

21 minutes ago, HLover said:

Or at a foot massage parlor.

Would he get a 50 % discount? 

9 minutes ago, LoongJohn said:

Going in for the Half-Price Special, no doubt.

 

"Special offer Mister - one for the price of two!"

35 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

Why is this a preferred destination for crooks on the run, has it anything to do with the reputation of the RTP?

Or a hangover from the Golden triangle days of 'glory'

Many may still believe all the 'hid out there for 15 years stories'  Borders that even now can be crossed in some places whereas years ago the full length of many borders was a walk over job. 

Maybe they still watch too many movies where the heroes/bad guys blend in with the locals and don't stand out like a sore thumb. Back home they know that if picked up in many cases they will be out on bail in a short while and maybe believe that will happen here as well.

All above is only a bunch of thoughts on it.

if he's in pattaya it will be easy to get his leg over virtually.

Big Joke needs to branch out and take down the fake leg lord of speed.

Is he a "drug lord" or "drug kingpin"? If a Lord, they sure have lowered the bar, or maybe just a little, in what it takes.... Kingpin? word origin: " 1801 as the name of the large pin in the game of kayles (similar to bowls except a club or stick was thrown instead of a ball" Sounds like a sport one could bet on, so RTP will be right on it. How about "Head Honcho"?

3 hours ago, JOC said:

Well soon we will have another real estate agent in Hua Hin.....

Unsavory types like him are more likely to flock to Pattaya.

8 minutes ago, tubby johnson said:

Unsavory types like him are more likely to flock to Pattaya.

Nah, to obvious,  up north away from the eyes of the plod.

or even Cambo, or Lao

This is the uk police we are talking about.

He could even be sat in Billericay,   watching EastEnders on the TV. 

Edited April 10, 20188 yr by stanleycoin

1 hour ago, HLover said:

Or at a foot massage parlor.

may be he will get discount, 50% off  

 

Come on,  pull the other one  

Edited April 10, 20188 yr by stanleycoin

Goes to prove that the Farlang criminal mentalities has no age barriers.