More 'Country Life Couple' Cohorts Sentenced For Illicit Animal Drugs Scam

Six more defendants involved in 'Ronnie and Reggie's' illegal black market veterinary drug supply have been sentenced.

All were linked to Ron Meddes, 73, and Regine Lansley, 62, as either agents, customers, money launderers or employees.

Andris Friend, 45,(pic.bottom) who was living in a stolen caravan on a Spalding, Lincolnshire farm when arrested, was sentenced to thirteen months imprisonment after admitting thirteen counts, plus additional counts covering later dates.

He was an agent of Meddes as well as a customer responsible for onward supply and traded in a false name, receiving 150 parcels in one six to nine month period.

"The stark fact is you were Meddes' agent in the UK, maybe his largest agent," Croydon Crown Court Judge Nicholas Ainley told Friend who traded in £400,000 worth of illegal medicines.

"Some of these drugs were extremely dangerous and having been arrested you carried on doing it."

DEFRA's senior investigating officer in the case, ex-cop Derrick Price said: “Friend was one of Eurovet's top buyers in the UK, selling huge amounts of dangerous and unauthorised drugs to animal owners throughout Lincolnshire and the east of England.

“There is little doubt that many animals would have suffered pain while friend made lots of money.”

Richard James, 44,(pic.top l.) of Llysonnen Road, Carmarthen pleaded guilty to supplying illegal medicines in his role as a trained practitioner in artificial insemination.

He bought £36,000 worth of medicines, which he sold on with a 25% mark up to local farmers in his area.

James was sentenced to 100 hours community service and immediately agreed to pay £45,551 - his profit from criminal activity.

Mr. Price said: "He purchased illegal drugs to maximise the profits of his business. There was no evidence to suggest his customers in Carmarthenshire knew he was using potentially harmful medicines."

Transport boss Mark Harvey, 52,(pic.top r.) of Hollyhurst, Wilsley Pound, Sissinghurst, Kent pleaded guilty to one count of laundering £292,000 of criminal profits made by the scam via a company he created.

The father-of-two was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to perform 275 hours community service.

Judge Ainley told him: "You have had this hanging over you and the public would say: 'serves you right.'

"It was your fault you were overawed by an extremely dangerous, skillful and impressive conman. A man you wanted to work with.

"This is what happens when you involve yourself with criminals."

Mr. Price said: "He was seduced by the champagne lifestyle of Ron and Reggie and knew exactly what he was doing in setting up a money laundering company."

New Zealand-born Cherryl Kantov, 64, and Igor Kantov, 52, both of Lee Villas, Hartington Place, Southend on Sea, Essex admitted minor roles assisting the scam when it moved to Belgium.

Cherryl provided basic admin duties and Igor drove for Meddes. Both were conditionally discharged for two years for their involvement in the illegal supply of medicines.

Mr. Price said: "Eurovet employed many eastern European men to transfer illegal drugs across Europe and act as minders at the storage areas. Igor was one of these men and Cherryl worked in the office processing illegal sales."

Millionaire cattle farmer Andrew Hawley, 59, of Six Hills Farm, Six Hills, Melton Mobray - boss of Leicestershire Livestock - was one of 4,000 farmers who bought illegal medication.

He pleaded guilty to six counts of possessing unauthorised and prescription-only veterinary drugs when his 200-acre farm was searched on July 31, 2008, but insists he believed they were legal.

He bought from Meddes for three to four years, paying £27,000, for medicines used on his herd, which numbered between 400-600 and his cattle annual turnover was 2,500 to 3,000.

Hawley was sentenced to 100 hours community service and ordered to pay £2,500 costs by Judge Ainley who said: "I am deeply suspicious, but I cannot say I am sure he knew they were illegal.

"He should have made checks. He is an experienced farmer with a large cattle-rearing establishment."

Black Market Profiteers Of 'Ronnie & Reggie' Scam Sentenced

A couple who enjoyed horseriding and hunting holidays on the ringleaders' French estate were sentenced with two more key players.

They bought and marked-up illegal veterinary medicines sold by notorious dealers Ronald Meddes, 73, and Regine Lansley, 62.

Couple Richard Jones, 60, a management consultant and June Connelly, 69,(pic.top l.) both of Winchcombe Road, Sedgeberrow, Evesham, Worcestershire - bosses of Henry Field Stud, Naunton Beauchamp, Pershore - both received suspended sentences.

Jones denied, but was convicted on nineteen charges and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was ordered to perform 200 hours community service.

Connelly admitted possession and importation of illegal medicines and was sentenced to four months, suspended for two years and ordered to perform 140 hours community service.

"You worked as a team, the jury found as much and they were right," Judge Nicholas Ainley told them.

The couple had a close friendship with Meddes and Lansley, enjoying holidays on their French estate, and bought £57,000 worth of illegal medicines.

Regarding Jones and Connolly DEFRAS’s senior investigating officer in the case, ex-cop Derrick Price said: “They both exhibited a cavalier attitude towards the welfare of horses and knew exactly what they were doing in selling illegal drugs in the Worcestershire and Warwick areas.”

Alexandra John, 51,(pic.bottom) of The Street, Capel, Dorking pleaded guilty to twenty counts and was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 200 hours community service.

The court heard John - who had an affair with Meddes - had three roles, being involved in sales, onward supply and collecting other customers' money and traded nearly £300,000 worth of illegal medicines.

The customers she sold to included equestrian centres and hunts - for a 10% commission - and she was arrested in May 2008 after a search of her home revealed large amounts of invoices.

"You were a significant agent of Meddes," Judge Ainley told John, currently living on incapacity and housing benefit. "You do deserve to go to prison, but I take your poor health into account."

Mr. Price said: “For several years she acted as an agent throughout the Surrey and Sussex areas, selling dangerous drugs to a variety of people, including many horse owners.”

Road haulage boss Peter Lock, 54,(pic.top r.) of Knaves Hall, Warren Lane, Doddinghurst, Brentwood, Essex - owner of Colmar Farm Riding School, Colmar Farm, Weald Park Way, South Weald, Brentwood denied, but was convicted on fifteen counts.

He bought £155,000 worth of illegal drugs and was sentenced to ten months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to perform 250 hours community service by Judge Ainley who told him: "I'm sure you were acting as an agent."

Mr. Price said: “He was a prolific supplier in the Essex area and was rightly convicted after trying to blame other family members.”

Country Life Couple Jailed For Europe's Biggest Illegal Vet Medicines Scam

A 'Lord and Lady of the Manor' couple who flooded the UK with £13.5m worth of black market veterinary drugs from their secluded 11-bedroom French farmhouse have both been jailed.

Self-styled Princess Diana look-alike Regine Lansley, 62, (pic.top r.) a popular member of the equestrian community, who describes herself as an expert horse-rider and shot was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment.

Husband Ronald Meddes, 73, (pic.top l.with Regine) a disgraced ex-Lloyds trader also well-known in horse circles, received 28 months for the "industrial scale" operation.

Regine, an actress and model who is available for hire as a Di look-alike, shows no modesty in her online profile describing herself as "charismatic" with an obvious "wow factor" and is constantly told by admirers: "I wish I could be like you."

An 1800-strong UK customer list was seized during the DEFRA raid on May 15 2007 on the French farmhouse 80 miles outside Paris - La Petite Ferme - (pic.bottom) owned by the couple known to friends as 'Ronnie and Reggie.'

The property was her fiftieth birthday present from Meddes.

Croydon Crown Court Judge Nicholas Ainley told Meddes: "You did very well in France, enjoying the country life, the hunts and the status you had in a very pleasant house and lived as a man of wealth.

"Your greed was such that after the raid you moved across the border to Belgium and after another raid you moved on undaunted and carried on while on bail.

"You could not resist trying to make money from this trade, you found a niche in the market and you exploited it."

The judge told Lansley: "You are an independent-minded woman and what you did, you did with your eyes open and carried on after you were arrested."

Prosecutor Mr. Andrew Marshall told the court: "It is the largest known attack on the UK veterinary system and the seizure of goods in France represented the largest seizure of illegal veterinary products in Europe."

The customer list included farms, stables, kennels, hunts, shoots and veterinary practices and the medicines supplied included anti-inflammatories, anabolic steroids, tranquillisers, antibiotics, sedatives, painkillers and other miscellaneous products administered to horses, household pets and farm animals.

"They illegally sold vast quantities of veterinary medicine to customers in the UK," he added, revealing 130 cubic metres of black market products were seized from a three-storey barn conversion warehouse that also housed offices and a team of migrant workers.

"This is a highly-regulated area because there can be a great deal of damage done to animals from the misuse of medication if you do not know where it was made, how it was made and the precise ingredients," added Mr. Marshall.

The married couple evaded EU regulations by lying that the medicines, imported from all over the world from counties including Australia and India, were for export-only to Russia.

There was a threefold price mark up on some India-imported medicines and investigators discovered paperwork showing total sales of £13.5m over a six-year period.

Such was the scale of their illicit operation some medicines enjoyed the largest market share in the UK over legitimate products and just one of their delivery companies transported 8.5 tons of black-market drugs into the UK during a two-year period.

The couple immediately restarted their illegal trade a month later from Belgium, covering their tracks with a string of foreign bank accounts in countries such as Cyprus and Malta, companies registered in Belize and Moscow-based company directors.

This was shut-down after another raid on October 2 2008, but the prosecution discovered the couple continued selling illegal medicines throughout 2009 and 2010 via a Hungary-registered company despite being subject to police bail.

"All these products go through the black market," explained Mr. Marshall. "They are being distributed by people not licensed to do it so others can administer them to animals who are not authorised to do so.

"It becomes a bit of a free-for-all and the food chain is placed at risk as well.

"These animals and their welfare are being placed at risk and the only reason for it is legitimate veterinary medicines are more expensive than smuggling these into the country or buying them over the internet."

Convicted fraudster Meddes, of Egg House, Charing, Kent pleaded guilty to nineteen counts of unlawfully supplying unauthorised veterinary medicines and Lansley, of Stadium Street, West Brompton, West London pleaded guilty to two counts.

She is currently claiming over £1,000 a month housing benefit plus £130 per fortnight dole because her assets have been frozen.

Confiscation proceedings will follow.

Big Bus Big Scam

A payroll administrator with popular Big Bus Tours, who pocketed nearly £60,000 by collecting ex-employees wages, has been jailed for two years.

Mother-of-two Melanie Douglas, 36, of Rosaline Road, Fulham was employed in the firm’s accounts department and had sole control of the computer programme that paid the 450-strong staff.

Between February and November 2008 she stole £59,225, diverting most of the proceeds into her brother’s bank account and pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position.

Father-of-two Delroy Douglas, 34, also of Rosaline Road pleaded guilty to laundering criminal proceeds totalling £38,094 and was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for a year and ordered to complete 150 hours community service work.

Prosecutor Mr. James Thacker told Croydon Crown Court Melanie Douglas was a £23,000 a year administrator with the Westminster-based firm since February 2005.

“She used the computer’s Pyramid System and entered all the hours worked by the employees and transferred the wages into the employees bank accounts.”

A new finance manager ordered a change in the payroll system in October 2008 and the defendant immediately took four months sick leave with stress.

“She did not want the changes implemented because her fraud would be found out,” added Mr. Thacker.

The company even gave the defendant a £6,500 pay-off, but her replacement noticed the previous year’s figures did not add up.

Six former employees were still being paid and it was discovered one of the accounts receiving funds was Delroy Douglas’s, which was subject to cash withdrawals soon after the deposits.

It was the same account his unemployment payments were deposited in.

Investigators discovered Melanie Douglas made approximately 150 payments to herself.

“You have systematically, carefully and cleverly removed from your employers sums in excess of fifty thousand pounds in eight months,” Judge Ruth Downing told Melanie Douglas.

“I cannot think of a higher degree of trust. You were the sole custodian of the wages system and cynically used the power for your own uses by siphoning off money.”

The judge told Delroy Douglas: “You allowed your bank account to be used and took some small sums.”

"Nothing To Do With Me" Claims Lawyer Accused Of Scam

A criminal defence solicitor, accused along with two legal associates of a £300,000-plus Legal Aid swindle, has told a jury: "It has nothing to do with me."

Solicitor Reuben Ewujowoh, 44, of Blythe Vale, Catford, boss of Rae and Co. of Trinity Street, Southwark denies falsely inflating every possible expense in relation to two Crown Court trials.

He told Croydon Crown Court his legal executive Lloyd McDonald, 68, received 40% of the bill and his costs draughtsman Robert Odong, 33, 5% - giving them a financial incentive to inflate costs.

Ewujowoh, McDonald, of Collins Avenue, Sutton In Ashfield, Nottinghamshire and Odong, of Bevin Court, Cruickshank Street, Islington have pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation in relation to two criminal trials and Ewujowoh alone denies one alternative count of fraud in relation to the second trial.

It is alleged the three defendants plotted together between August 2 2007 and August 26 2008 to defraud Legal Aid in the case of Tsafack, which was heard at Leicester Crown Court and between July 30 2007 and August 26 2008 in the case of Rutayisere at Luton Crown Court.

The plot was exposed, the jury were told, by chance when the same Legal Aid determining officer happened to be working on claims for both trials.

"It is still a mystery to me why Tsafack was billed as category A," Ewujowoh told the jury. "I did not go to court or the prison visits and the train and taxi claims have nothing to do with me. Mr. McDonald was responsible for that.

"I put my hand up that I did not check the bill properly, but there was pressure of time and I was not well. I had high blood pressure and did not realise they were forgeries."

False claims could easily have also been made by Odong, insisted the solicitor. "He has access to all the case papers and the memory stick containing blank attendance notes."

Ewujowoh continued distancing himself from the fraudulent claims during a tough week in the witness box, which saw him reduced to tears.

"This is not my creation and I did not give anyone instructions to do this. I don't know how all this has happened."

The trial continues.............

Veteran Londoner In Road Death 3 Years Shy Of Century

A woman who lived for ninety-seven years was tragically killed by a lorry on one of London’s busiest roads.

Pensioner Nora Gutmann was struck by the large vehicle opposite Madam Tussauds waxworks in Marylebone Road (pictured) at noon on June 17, not far from her St. John’s Wood home.

She was treated at the scene by paramedics and was rushed to Paddington’s St. Mary’s Hospital where she sadly died from her injuries soon after arriving.

The driver of the lorry was arrested at the scene and released on police bail pending further investigations

A post-mortem examination took place on June 21 at Westminster Mortuary and gave cause of death as multiple injuries.



Next of kin identified the victim.



Detective Sergeant Jeff Edwards, who is leading the investigation, said: ”I am grateful for a number of people who stopped at the scene to assist the casualty.



“This stretch of road was fairly busy at that time and I would urge anyone who may have seen any of the parties in the moments leading up to the collision, or the collision itself, to contact police.”



Anyone with information is asked to call the Road Death Investigation Unit at Hampton Traffic Garage on 020 8941 9011, or call anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Director Who Helped Himself To Company Cash Dodges Jail

A company director who ripped off the fellow owners of a property firm he ran – writing nearly £30,000 in cheques to himself – has dodged jail with a suspended sentence.

Keith Kennaird, 55, of Rowan Close, Ealing wrote cheques to his landlord to pay his rent, plus personal cheques to himself on eight occasions between November 2008 and January, last year.

He pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and at Isleworth Crown Court was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, and ordered to pay £10,000 compensation.

Prosecutor Miss Abigail Penny told the court first-time offender Kennaird was a director along with two other investors of West London’s Abbey Wharf Properties.

“He wrote cheques for his own benefit without the knowledge of the other directors,” she explained.

The total loss was £27,100.

“As far as one of the other directors was concerned this was an investment business for his retirement and he is very concerned he has lost so much money,” added Miss Penny.

“That director says it was a way of saving a lump sum for retirement.”

Kennaird’s lawyer Sir Jonah Walker-Smith said: “The losers will be the insurance company. There will not be any loss to the individual company directors.

“This offence was committed due to need rather than greed. Most of it was used to pay his rent.”

The defendant had run the company for the entire seventeen years of its existence – investing in property – and was not drawing a salary.

“The others were sleeping partners, he was doing the work of the company, the day to day running of the company, investing in property,” said Sir Jonah.

“Unfortunately he went ahead and paid himself because he felt aggrieved, he felt hard done by. It was naïve stupidity.

“He took the view he was done down by them because he was doing more than his fair share of work and there was a certain amount of tit for tat.”

Trouble-Prone Model In Dock Again

A glamorous ex-Harrods sales girl and model has dodged prison yet again - despite threatening her victim with a bogus sex complaint if he called police.

Holly Salter, 23, snatched £750 from the man's wallet during a boozy night out with a pal, but when he caught up with the pair moments later she vowed to lodge a sexual assault claim if he did not back-off.

The theft put the single-mum in breach of a suspended sentence for smuggling a mobile phone to a jailbird ex-boyfriend and she only avoided prison because of her two year-old daughter Poppy and the fact she is eight-months pregnant.

Salter, of Buckingham Road, Hampton, Middlesex pleaded guilty to stealing the cash from Anguel Popov, 35, at his flat at 8a The Green, Ealing, West London on July 1, last year.

She and a 23 year-old friend, had originally been charged with burgling the flat, but the prosecution at Isleworth Crown Court dropped the allegation.

The girls claim Mr. Popov had invited them up to his flat, which he denies, insisting he chased after them when discovering the money missing from his wallet he left in his bedroom.

"There was a pursuit out into the street and he confronted the young women," prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Wright told the court. "There was a threat that if he continued with the complaint they would say he sexually assaulted them in the flat."

The victim then flagged down a passing police car and officers quizzed the young women at the roadside.

"Their stories were contradictory about how they came to be in the flat. One said they met Mr. Popov in a pub and the other said outside the flat.

"The cash was recovered from Miss Salter.

"When he returned home Mr. Popov noticed other items were missing, including his car keys and some jewellery," added Mr. Wright.

"When he returned to the location where he confronted the young women he found his keys in the gutter and the jewellery in a nearby doorway."

Salter admitted she was in breach of a three-and-a-half month suspended sentence imposed for giving ex James Kerr, 22, a mobile phone at Harrow Crown Court, where he was later jailed for five years on robbery and burglary charges.

She also has convictions for driving while disqualified, without insurance and failing to give her name and address to police.

"She told me this was the first time she had been out for some time and drank far too much alcohol," said Mr. Stephen Earnshaw, defending. "It took her some time to sober up."

Recorder Giles Curtis-Raleigh told Salter: "I am troubled by a breach of the suspended sentence that has been ignored and was a chance given by the courts, but I am pursuaded because of the children not to send you to prison today.

"You stole seven hundred and fifty pounds from this man's wallet within his house. It was clear breach of his privacy.

"What makes it more serious is that you were subject to a suspended sentence. You had been given a chance.

"I am just persuaded to take a different view for the sake of your children, but regardless of them there will come a time when the court has no option, but to send you to prison.

"You were caught and your response was to try and intimidate him by telling lies that he had sexually assaulted you and your friend.

"This was a mean offence."

Salter has modelled for Miss Selfridge, was a Miss London finalist and has had roles in film, television, commercials and pop videos.

Boozy Singer Caught Drink-Driving Again

A wannabe pop star, who kicked out at police who caught her drink-driving for the third time, was nearly three times the limit when stopped behind the wheel.

South Londoner Natalie Jones, 33, drowned her sorrows to ease the devastation of discovering her boyfriend of six years was a married man with two children.

She pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in her breath in Park Lane, Mayfair in the early hours of April 14, blowing a 94 reading. The legal limit is 35.

She was also convicted of assaulting two police officers and was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, suspended for twelve months; ordered to obey a 14 week nightime curfew; complete 100 hours community service and was disqualified from driving for five years.

She was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to each officer.

Southwark Crown Court heard today police officer’s daughter Jones was caught drink-driving in 2005 and 2006 and driving while disqualified in 2007.

Jones, of Crown Dale, Upper Norwood claimed she was “very embarrassed,” “ashamed” and “emotional” when caught a third time.

Dismissing her appeal against the sentence Recorder Catherine Newman QC said: “Whilst this was a tough sentence it was justified.

“Your record is extremely bad with three drink-drives in ten years and this was a dreadful offence. The five-year disqualification was fully justified.”

Jones was ordered to pay £300 costs.

Murder Detective Determined To Crack Cold-Case Prostitute Killing

Police are still trying to solve the murder of a North-East London prostitute – severely beaten and strangled in her home sixteen years ago.

Christine McGovern, 47, was found naked at 53a Hamilton Road, Walthamstow at noon on June 22, 1995.


She had been asphyxiated and beaten so badly her spine and nose were broken and her body was covered in severe bruises.


Officers hope that as the years have passed allegiances may have changed or someone too scared to come forward at the time now feels able.



Detective Inspector Ken Hughes, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “We are appealing for anyone who didn't originally come forward to contact us.



“Circumstances change over the years and it may be someone now feels they can approach us in confidence and anonymously if they wish.



“Even if you just have a hunch or had suspicions about someone at the time we would like to hear from you - we can quickly eliminate people from the enquiry from the evidence we have recovered from the scene but a piece of information you may think is useless could be crucial.”



She was found by a friend in the flat she occupied alone with her Rottweiler dog.

Christine was last seen alive at about 6:30pm on June 21 1995 in the street outside her home.

A number of people reported that at around 11:00pm they heard a dog barking - possibly the victim’s.



There had been no forced entry to her home, but it had been ransacked and there were items missing, including a video recorder, a satellite decoder, four gold rings and a gold necklace with a St Christopher’s pendant.

Detectives believe she was murdered by someone she knew.



Anyone who can help is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3734. If you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

Schoolboy Error Costs Gunman 6-Year Term

Suspiciously walking through school grounds as police watched – then dumping a gun wrapped in a towel – cost this criminal his freedom after a search of his home found another firearm and 462 bullets.

Operation Trident officers – who investigate violent black-on-black crime in the capital – are celebrating taking two more lethal weapons off the streets and locking-up this gunman.

Anthony Laretive, 20, of Sunset Gardens, Croydon, received six years imprisonment at the town’s crown court after pleading guilty to the charges.

On January 18 Laretive was seen by police walking through the grounds of a Croydon primary school carrying a bag.

He was stopped by officers after he exited the school grounds by climbing over a fence, no longer with the bag.

The bag was found following a search of the grounds by a police dog and inside was a firearm wrapped in a towel.



Laretive was arrested for possession of a firearm and taken to South Norwood Police Station.

His home address was searched and in his bedroom another firearm was recovered along with 462 rounds of assorted ammunition.



Detective Constable Peter Wood said: “I am pleased with the result of our investigation.

“We will not tolerate people walking through the streets of London with guns and will thoroughly investigate anyone who is suspected to be in possession of illegally held firearms.



“Every time we recover a gun, we potentially save a life.



“I hope the sentence received by Laretive sends a strong message out to those thinking that they are above the law.”

University Experts Help Police Solve Death Riddle

Do you know this unknown suspected vagrant found dead on Mitcham Common, South-West London at the start of the year?

Detectives have released this 3D image compiled by a craniofacial identification expert at the centre of Anatomy & Human Identification at Dundee University.

The partially decomposed body of the man, who is believed to be at least 50 years old, was found by a member of the public on January 17.

Extensive enquiries and previous appeals have been unsuccessful to identify the man – prompting a fresh bid with the help of this image.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Dunne, said: “I would appeal to the public to take a good look at the image and contact the police if they think it resembles anyone who perhaps they haven't seen recently.”



Forensic tests indicate the man probably died in September/October 2010.

A post-mortem examination could not determine a cause of death.



The man is described as white, between 5'7 - 5'9 tall with short dark hair.

He had poor dental health and a number of his teeth were missing.



Detectives believe he may have been a homeless person in the south London area.



Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8721 4906 or to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.