Conisbrough dealer behind foiled Colombia drugs plot loses appeal

Russell Knaggs (44), of Marsh Gate, Conisbrough, is serving 20 years after being convicted of conspiracy to import cocaine in 2012.

An Appeal Court hearing earlier this year was told Knaggs played an “organisational” role in the failed smuggling plot from his cell at Lowdham Grange Prison, in Nottinghamshire.

Two other men — Phillip Hadley (58) and Robert Rich (46) were also jailed for the plot, which included a Colombian serving time in a UK jail.

Their case was in court again last December after they claimed vital evidence had been obtained as a result of illegal email monitoring in the US.

It revolved around a Yahoo account, which members of the gang had used to secretly communicate with each other through draft emails.

Lawyers questioned how prosecutors got their hands on such a vast array of messages between the gang.

Their appeal was dismissed in August when judges led by Lady Justice Sharp said there was “no proper basis” for suggesting the emails were illegally obtained.

However, the men attempted to fight on by asking the court to grant permission to take the case to the Supreme Court.

They said the case involved a legal point of such importance that it should be decided by the country’s most senior judges.

But Lady Justice Sharp returned to the Court of Appeal last Wednesday to dismiss the trio’s bid in a short ruling in London.

“The application to certify a point of law of general public importance is refused, as is the application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court,” she said.

Hadley, of Cleethorpes, was in charge of providing money and arranging contacts, including travel to South America, while Rich, of Barnsley, was responsible for contact with Knaggs, meeting contacts, attending meetings and as the man “on the ground” in South America.

Colombian prisoner Jesus Anibal Ruiz-Henao, was to use his connections to source the drugs.

The gang referred to the plan as a “plastering job” to avoid being caught, but were unaware they were being monitored by the authorities.

The Serious and Organised Crime Agency watched the gang in the UK and when the men travelled overseas, gathering evidence from coded conversations and meetings.

All four were convicted of conspiracy to import cocaine at two trials at Birmingham Crown Court in 2012.

Knaggs was jailed for 20 years, Hadley for 18, Ruiz-Henao for 16 years and Rich for 14 years.

They appealed on the basis that evidence relating to the Yahoo emails — known as “the slimjim account” — had been wrongly put before jurors.

But Yahoo explained that the material came from automatically-saved snapshots of messages, which stayed on its server, said Lady Justice Sharp.

She said the trial judges were “entitled to admit” the disputed material and it was far from the only evidence against the men.

The prosecution cases against them were “overwhelming”, she added.

Last week’s hearing, in which she refused permission for a Supreme Court appeal, lasted less than a minute.