Judge throws out drug smuggler's jail appeal

A BOSTON man, jailed for his involvement in a major drug smuggling operation which saw over £3m of cannabis shipped into the UK, has been told by top judges he cannot complain about his jail term.

George Charles Horn was jailed for five years at Leeds Crown Court in August last year, after he admitted conspiracy to supply, and conspiracy to import, the class B drug.

The 49-year-old, of Small End, Boston, challenged his sentence at London's Criminal Appeal Court, with his lawyers arguing it was too long for his role in the plot.

They argued he was designed to be a fall guy for those higher up in the chain of command and was therefore unaware of the huge quantities involved in the shipments.

But his appeal was dismissed by three of the country's most senior judges, who said his jail term was not excessive in light of his significant role in the plot - regardless of whether or not he was one of the leaders.

The court heard the drugs were found in a shipment which had been brought to Lincolnshire from Rotterdam by a legitimate courier - unaware of what the cargo was.

Horn met one of his accomplices - a lorry driver - on February 5 2011, shortly before the driver collected the shipment from a depot.

When police stopped the driver in Spalding, shortly after he left the depot, and searched the lorry, they discovered 118 kilos of skunk cannabis and 530 kilos of cannabis resin - hidden in crates under ropes and tubing.

The estimated street value of the drugs was nearly £3.3 million.

Horn had stayed in the area and was arrested shortly after the lorry was seized.

He had five pay-as-you-go mobile phones, indicating his involvement in the plot.

The crown court judge said Horn acted as a liaison between the organisers of the conspiracy and those distributing the drugs.

His lawyers argued his sentence was too long, saying the judge didn't take enough account of sentencing guidelines or of Horn's limited role in the plot - which was not a leading one and therefore he was not aware of the amount of cannabis involved.

But, dismissing his appeal, Mrs Justice Simler said Horn's jail term was fully justified.

Sitting with Lord Justice Fulford and Mr Justice Hickinbottom, she added: "This was a highly significant role, whether or not one characterises it as also having some element of a leading role.

"In our judgment, the judge was entirely justified in setting the sentence he did - this was not a failure to follow the sentencing guidelines."

http://www.bostontarget.co.uk 12/02/2014