One-legged UK crime boss on the run for five years extradited from Thailand and jailed

A one-legged Brit crime boss has been jailed after being caught in Thailand following five years on the run.

Richard Wakeling, 55, was extradited back to the UK on Thursday from Thailand having been wanted by the UK authorities since 2018.

Wakeling from Brentwood, Essex, is now serving an 11-year prison sentence.

He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday afternoon and was immediately jailed after being convicted in his absence.

The court had previously found Wakeling guilty of trying to import £8million worth of amphetamine suspended in liquid in 2016 but fled the UK on the eve of his trial in 2018.

Richard Wakeling was convicted of organising an £8million drugs deal (PA)

He was arrested in Thailand in February 2023 (PA)

Wakeling was arrested in Thailand in February this year after Royal Thai Police swooped while he was collecting his car after repair at a Bangkok garage.

The crook, who has a prosthetic lower right leg, was escorted back to Heathrow by specialist officers from the Joint International Crime Centre’s extradition unit.

The National Crime Agency began the investigation into Wakeling’s organised crime group after Border Force colleagues stopped a truck boarding a Channel Tunnel train on 9 April 2016.

The truck contained plastic drums carrying the drugs. The driver was transporting furniture from Italy, but stopped at Ternat in Belgium where phone evidence showed he was directed to collect the drugs.

At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of a passport in another identity (PA)

Wakeling masterminded the operation, the NCA said, liaising between drug suppliers in the Netherlands and two other UK offenders to arrange the journey.

Officers proved the crime group had organised six other importations before the 2016 seizure.

Jacque Beer, NCA regional head of investigations, said: “Richard Wakeling thought he could avoid facing justice by leaving the UK."

Organised crime group boss Richard Wakeling was placed on the National Crime Agency (NCA)'s 'most wanted' list, and appeals were issued for information to help trace him (PA)

“The hard work of NCA officers – both here in the UK and overseas – and that of our international partners has put him behind bars for a lengthy prison sentence.

“This case highlights the NCA’s global reach and that we will do everything we can to ensure those who commit serious and organised crime are held accountable for their actions, no matter how long it takes or how far they flee.”

After Wakeling fled in 2018, the NCA issued an appeal for help finding him.