Jamie Acourt: Man who was suspect in Stephen Lawrence murder jailed for nine years
Written by News on 07/12/2018
A man who was suspected in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence has been jailed for nine years for conspiracy to supply drugs.
Jamie Acourt, 42, pleaded guilty to the plot to supply cannabis resin in the northeast of England.
It is the last conviction in an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Organised Crime Command, with seven men charged over a complex and highly organised drugs network.
Acourt previously denied the conspiracy to supply a class B drug between January 2014 and February 2016, but changed his plea when the prosecution opened its case.
He then agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy from January 2014 to May 2015 only.
Acourt’s brother, Neil Acourt, has already been jailed for more than six years for his role in the scheme.
Jamie Acourt, from Eltham in southeast London, spent two years on the run in Spain, living under the name Simon Alfonzo until he was arrested in May as he left a gym in Barcelona.
Prosecutors said the brothers were ringleaders who enlisted family members to help move about £3m of the drugs around the country.
Judge Peter Lodder said: “That you played a leading role is beyond doubt.
“I have been urged to bear in mind that following the arrest of (Darren) Woods you withdrew from the conspiracy and that the conspiracy continued without appointing a new leader, suggesting your role was not crucial.”
He said the system was well-established before he dropped out.
Both Acourts were arrested after the stabbing of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in 1993 but have always denied any involvement.
The prosecution in Neil Acourt’s case said the system involved dozens of 600-mile round trips from London to South Shields to take drugs up and bring cash back.
Prosecutors said Jamie Acourt was involved in the supply of 500kg of cannabis resin, worth £2.2m.
Jamie Acourt’s defence barrister said: “It’s a mitigating factor he withdrew from the conspiracy, albeit in circumstances where one of the co-conspirators has recently been arrested.”
Seven men have now been convicted, including Lee Birks, 57, who is the stepfather of Jamie Acourt’s partner, and Neil Acourt’s 65-year-old father-in-law Jack Vose.
The case against Darren Woods was dismissed.
(c) Sky News 2018: Jamie Acourt: Man who was suspect in Stephen Lawrence murder jailed for nine years
