A convicted murderer serving two life sentences orchestrated an elaborate scheme from behind bars to help international drug traffickers escape lengthy prison terms, in a case that has exposed the lengths organised criminals will go to undermine the UK justice system.
According to details released by the National Crime Agency (NCA), William Todd, 61, directed a conspiracy aimed at derailing the convictions of key figures involved in a major MDMA smuggling operation.
The Drug Trafficking Case at the Centre
The plot centred on the prosecution of Danny Brown, 58, and Stefan Baldauf, 66, who were convicted in December 2022 for attempting to smuggle 448kg of MDMA, with an estimated street value of £45m, into Australia. The drugs had been concealed in the arm of an industrial digger, highlighting the sophistication of the trafficking operation.
Both men received substantial custodial sentences, with Brown jailed for 26 years and Baldauf for 28 years following the NCA-led investigation. The case formed part of Operation Venetic, the UK's response to the takedown of the encrypted communications platform EncroChat, which has been instrumental in exposing organised crime networks.
A Scheme to Sabotage Justice
As the jury retired to deliberate in June 2022, false allegations were submitted to Kingston Crown Court claiming that jurors had been bribed to secure convictions. The reports specifically alleged that five jurors had been tampered with.
However, the plot quickly began to unravel. Investigators discovered that two of the jurors named in the complaint had already been discharged months earlier, exposing inconsistencies in the claims. The trial resumed shortly after.
Inside the Conspiracy Network
Further inquiries revealed that Todd had enlisted the help of accomplices operating outside prison. Danny Thomas, 46, was identified from court CCTV footage as a man who had briefly attended proceedings and had recorded jurors' names as they were read aloud. He was acting under instructions from Todd, who was communicating via a secret mobile phone hidden inside a DVD player in his prison cell.
When their initial attempt failed, the conspirators escalated their efforts. In August 2022, they recruited Sheree Avard, 41, to pose as a witness using the alias Ioana Andrei. She contacted Brown's solicitor, falsely claiming to have had a relationship with a juror who allegedly admitted being pressured into convicting the defendants.
The group went further by arranging a fake passport and securing a fabricated deposition from a woman in Romania, with the support of a corrupt solicitor. Their intention was to present the statement as credible evidence that the jury had been compromised, thereby forcing a retrial or overturning the convictions.
Investigation and Arrests
The conspiracy ultimately collapsed following Thomas's arrest at Heathrow Airport on 24 November 2022. He was found in possession of a mobile phone containing key evidence, including recordings and messages linking him directly to the scheme.
Crucially, investigators identified a contact saved under the alias 'Ari Gold', a reference to a character from the television series Entourage, which led them to Todd's covert prison phone. This discovery confirmed Todd as the central figure orchestrating the operation from inside prison.
Sentencing and Official Response
Thomas and Avard both pleaded guilty to conspiring to pervert the course of justice and were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court to three years and four months and one year, respectively. Todd was convicted by a jury of the same offence and received an additional seven-year sentence.
Steve Ahmet, senior investigating officer at the NCA, said: 'This case shows the remarkable lengths that high-harm criminals will go to in order to cheat justice and why they pose the greatest corruption threat to crucial pillars of our society.'
Nicola Rutter of the Crown Prosecution Service added: 'Jury tampering undermines a cornerstone of our justice system... While they didn't actually interfere with the jury, they made false reports of jury tampering. This has landed them with prison time.'
A Stark Warning for the Justice System
The case underscores the evolving tactics used by organised crime groups, particularly their willingness to exploit legal systems and manipulate judicial processes. Despite operating from a prison cell, Todd was able to coordinate a multi-layered conspiracy involving deception, international elements and attempted legal interference.
Authorities say the successful prosecution highlights the resilience of the UK justice system and the importance of vigilance against corruption at every level.
