Two men have been sentenced to lengthy prison sentences following trials at Southwark Crown Court.
Alex King, 42, was convicted of two charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, one charge of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and one charge of conspiracy to supply Class C drugs and sentenced to 11 years in prison. His associate Baljit Gill, 38, was found guilty of two charges of conspiracy to sell Class A drugs after a separate trial and was sentenced to nine years in prison.
King was sentenced in his absence as he absconded in 2018 and has taken extreme measures to avoid justice. He brought the town of Salisbury to a halt on 16 September 2018 when he collapsed in a restaurant and later claimed he was the victim of a Novichok attack. Doctors found no traces of the poison which was involved in the high profile poisoning in the town of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in March 2018.
The Court heard how King and his wife Anna Shapiro lived a “bizarre” party lifestyle and King was accused of selling class A drugs and arranging high-class escorts to make money.
His whereabouts remain unknown and he has not been seen since December 2018. He was arrested in June 2016 when he was found in possession of a range of drugs including 90% pure cocaine, MDMA powder, ecstasy tablets, crack cocaine, ketamine and diazepam with a combined street value of £60,000.
Confiscation proceedings were started by the judge to seize the defendant’s criminal cash.
David Matthew was instructed by CPS London for the Prosecution.
For help or advice please call +44 (0)20 7242 3555 or complete the form below
A member of the Clerking team will help you resolve your request.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have an out of hours number?
Yes, please call Chambers mainline number +44 (0)20 7242 3555 and you will be directed to the out of hours phone lines.
How can I find out whether 7BR can take my case?
As a direct access client, please visit our direct access page and complete the initial form, a member of the clerking team will then be in touch to discuss the next steps.
Will my barrister deal with all the correspondence?
Some barristers have the ability to “conduct litigation” for direct access clients. Our clerks will be able to assist you as to which of our members are trained and accredited to do so.
How do I instruct a barrister?
Please visit our direct access page for the initial steps on instructing a barrister, or contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
