SOLDIERS JAILED OVER DRUGS PLOT

MEMBERS OF a gang, including five serving soldiers, which plotted to
smuggle drugs worth millions of pounds into Britain from the Continent,
were jailed for a total of 120 years yesterday.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the case was the first to reach the courts
where members of the armed services had been involved in the organised
importation of drugs.

David Turner QC for the prosecution, said: "For a number of years soldiers
of a distinguished regiment, the 39th Regiment of the Royal Artillery,
abused their position as British servicemen and brought dishonour on their
regiment."

Gunners Paul Bromiley, 30, of Preston, and Peter Jackson, 29, of
Manchester, were each jailed for 17 years as was former Merchant Navy cook
Peter O'Toole, 26, of Liverpool. Gunner Dale Mills, 26, of Northampton,
received 16 years, as did bombardier Kevin Jones, 31, of Hazelrigg, near
Newcastle.

Former gunner James Bull, 29, of Inskip, Lancashire, was given 13 years;
former bombardier Paul Wright, 29, of Liverpool, 10 years; gunner Billy
Stott, 20, from Oldham, nine years and Darren Williams, 27, a civilian,
from Ellesmere Port, Wirral, five years.