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| Pair convicted of possessing paracetamol in legal first | Pair convicted of possessing paracetamol in legal first |
| (7 days later) | |
| Two men have made UK legal history after being convicted of a drugs-related offence even though the substances involved are not illegal, police said. | Two men have made UK legal history after being convicted of a drugs-related offence even though the substances involved are not illegal, police said. |
| Anthony Woodford, 23, and David Lewinson, 44, stood trial after the latter was found with 150kg (330lb) of ground paracetamol and caffeine at Dover docks in Kent. | Anthony Woodford, 23, and David Lewinson, 44, stood trial after the latter was found with 150kg (330lb) of ground paracetamol and caffeine at Dover docks in Kent. |
| Although the substances are not illegal, investigators suspected they would be used as cutting agents for heroin, giving the Class A drug a street value of more than £5m. | Although the substances are not illegal, investigators suspected they would be used as cutting agents for heroin, giving the Class A drug a street value of more than £5m. |
| The Kent and Essex serious crime directorate launched an investigation and identified Woodford as the organiser of the cross-Channel trip, which led to the landmark prosecution. | The Kent and Essex serious crime directorate launched an investigation and identified Woodford as the organiser of the cross-Channel trip, which led to the landmark prosecution. |
| The pair were charged under the Serious Crime Act 2007 with "importing a quantity of caffeine and paracetamol which was capable of encouraging or assisting … the supply of a controlled drug of Class A". | The pair were charged under the Serious Crime Act 2007 with "importing a quantity of caffeine and paracetamol which was capable of encouraging or assisting … the supply of a controlled drug of Class A". |
| At Maidstone crown court on Monday, a jury found Woodford, of Harlow, Essex, and Lewinson, of Colindale, north London, guilty of the offence. | At Maidstone crown court on Monday, a jury found Woodford, of Harlow, Essex, and Lewinson, of Colindale, north London, guilty of the offence. |
| On Friday, Detective Sergeant Mat Scott, of the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate, said: "This is the first time in the UK that a successful prosecution has been made when the drug found has not itself been an illegal substance. | On Friday, Detective Sergeant Mat Scott, of the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate, said: "This is the first time in the UK that a successful prosecution has been made when the drug found has not itself been an illegal substance. |
| "The prosecution were able to prove, beyond doubt, that the huge quantity of paracetamol and caffeine was intended to be used to cut with heroin. | "The prosecution were able to prove, beyond doubt, that the huge quantity of paracetamol and caffeine was intended to be used to cut with heroin. |
| "This has been a successful test case and, therefore, has set a precedent for this type of offence." | "This has been a successful test case and, therefore, has set a precedent for this type of offence." |
| Police said Lewinson drove a white Volkswagen Caddy van out of Dover's Eastern Docks and on to a Dunkirk-bound ferry on 20 April last year. He was stopped by border officials when he tried to return a day later – and the ground powder was discovered. | Police said Lewinson drove a white Volkswagen Caddy van out of Dover's Eastern Docks and on to a Dunkirk-bound ferry on 20 April last year. He was stopped by border officials when he tried to return a day later – and the ground powder was discovered. |
| The pair will be sentenced on 19 October. | The pair will be sentenced on 19 October. |
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