Drugs baron John Anslow fails in bid to clear name

Anslow was at the head of a major drugs ring, which sold and distributed cocaine and cannabis across the West Midlands.

The 35-year-old became Britain's most wanted man when he was violently and dramatically sprung from a prison van outside HMP Hewell near Redditch to Stafford Crown Court.

He then went on the run to Northern Cyprus.

While still at large, Anslow, of St Mark's Road, Tipton, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis and sentenced to 22 years behind bars in September 2012.

Yesterday (THURS) he challenged his convictions at London's Criminal Appeal Court, with his lawyers arguing the trial should not have been held in his absence and that the judge misdirected the jury.

However, his complaints were thrown out by top judges, who said the decision to go ahead with the trial could not be criticised and Anslow only had himself to blame for his absence.

The court also dismissed an appeal against his sentence, saying it was 'not excessive'.

A major police investigation into the drugs ring revealed Anslow was at its head and in charge of the operation.

While running the outfit, he lived a lavish lifestyle, splashing out on fast cars and luxury holidays.

His drug network stretched across the globe and he spent £36,000 sponsoring Wolves matches and players, splashed thousands of pounds in cash on far-flung holidays to the Caribbean and met high level criminal associates in Thailand.

As the net closed in on him, Anslow tried to trick officers into believing he was in Spain, but he was discovered lying low at a Bewdley caravan park and was arrested in August 2011.

While awaiting trial on the drugs charges, he was also charged with the murder of Richard Deakin - of which he was later cleared.

He was being taken to a hearing in the murder case when he was broken out of the prison van in January 2012.

He was tried, found guilty and sentenced for the drugs offences in his absence.

Anslow remained at large for more than a year, before being arrested in Northern Cyprus and returned to the UK in March 2013.

He was later found guilty of escaping from custody, but acquitted of murder.

Mr Justice Hickinbottom, sitting with Lady Justice Rafferty and Judge Alistair McCreath, said there was nothing which cast doubt on the 'safety' of his drugs convictions.

His sentence was also fully justified.