Tuesday 24 December 2013

Scrounger mum was drug boss

VILLAIN Diane Brookhouse claimed benefits while running a drugs racket.
The 41-year-old pretended she was forced to struggle on state handouts after husband Richard, 45, was jailed for drug smuggling.
But the mum-of-two, below, was actually enjoying a lavish lifestyle by helping her husband to continue his illegal business from behind bars.
She is facing jail after being convicted of involvement in a huge drugs ring masterminded by her now ex.
Warrington Crown Court heard he was a key player in a conspiracy that imported more than £15million of heroin and cocaine into the UK via fishing trips to France.
With the help of a network of other crooks, he orchestrated the conspiracy while serving a 22-year drug sentence.
Wife Diane, of Warrington, has been convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin.
Detectives had found she was living way beyond the means of a benefit claimant.
She drove a Mercedes CLC 180 Sport and owned two iPhones with £80 monthly contracts.
The plot unravelled when officers in Essex collared two men with cocaine worth £15m and heroin worth £400,000.
Diane and other gang members will be sentenced next month.