"Top Pilot is accused of £500k cocaine drug smuggling"

[jez d]

From the BBC:

Other blocks of cocaine were found stashed in a pillow case and one was found lying loose in the plane.

Just for clarification - not questioning the jury's findings.

It is sickening that he had to wait 19 months, tagged and broke, before being tried.

[Hen Ddraig]

Almost the end of this story.
Aircraft owner David Watson yesterday sentenced to 20 (yes Twenty) years, Michael Cahillane got 16 years and Richard McArthur who admitted the offence got 6 years.
Michael Lockwood to be sentenced on Jun 13.



Time to spare? Go by air

Hen ddraig

[funfly]

As I said in September 2010;
There might be some pilots who make themselves unpopular and who do stupid things. Whatever you may think of them personally, it is unfortunate that anyone whose livelihood has been jeopardised and who lives with the suspicion of a serious crime has to wait for so long to get matters clarified.

[PompeyPaul]

Lesson

I guess the important lesson is to remain ever vigilant as to what is happening with our planes and airfield. The more the bad guys get involved with GA the more regulated we'll become.

Personally I believe cocaine is Darwin in action. If you are stupid enough to take it, well that's genes we could do without. It is completely outflanked by my worry as to what it will do to flying if the bad guys move in. Keep an eye out, out there

[truthwillout]

The Truth

In this case there were two pilots on board, Mr Paul Roche was the acting pilot Mr Lloyd was co-pilot, Mr Lockwood had booked Mr Lloyd through Mr David Watson (the plane owner) for lessons to learn to fly. He was a Friend of Watsons son Andrew Watson. Who was also charged with conspiracy.

But for the UNSAFE statements by the 3 Police officers on Anglesey . Mr Lloyd may never have been charged. The Judge in summing up told the jury to discard the 3 officers evidence as it was UNSAFE(the judges words) in my words LIES.

I was at the court for the summing up.In the case of Mr Lloyd and Mr Roche it was clear the judge did not think they were guilty and summed up that way.

Case ended Mr David Lloyd NOT GUILTY, Mr Paul Roche NOT GUILTY, Mr David Watson GUILTY 20 years, Andrew Watson GUILTY 16 years Mr Micheal Cahillane GUILTY 16 years, Mr Mathew Lockwood Guilty 6 years? I hope this clears it up a little for the guys on here that had them guilty by their comments. PS BEagle you sound bitter against LLoyd

[Whopity]

Your first sentence is incorrect. You cannot have a co-pilot on a single pilot aircraft. If there is an instructor on board acting as an instructor, then he is Pilot in Command and legally the Captain of the aircraft, not a co-pilot!

[BEagle]

PS BEagle you sound bitter against Lloyd

Not at all, I was merely correcting certain factual inaccuracies. I haven't seen Dave for some years now, but wish him well in whatever he's doing these days.

He always had a twinkle in his eye when I used to work with him!