bigears 205 Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 A FAKE vet who illegally dealt in illicit animal medicines after his release from prison for an identical scam has been jailed for 12 months. Leonard French, 73, of Station Road, Langworth, near Lincoln, – who has changed his name by deed poll to Lee Wilson – unlawfully distributed at least £50,000 worth of the smuggled drugs. JAILED: Leonard French, who illegally dealt in illicit animal medicines has been jailed. Picture: BBC Look North "You are such a persistent breaker of the law I have no option but to impose an immediate custodial sentence," Judge Nicholas Ainley told him at Croydon Crown Court. French pleaded guilty to six charges of unlawfully importing unauthorised veterinary medicines, six counts of supplying them and four counts of possessing them on various dates between July 16, 2008, and February 22 this year. He was prosecuted by the Department Of Environment FoodAnd Rural Affairs (Defra) after he was linked to a French-based £6 million veterinary medicine scam. That was run by disgraced Ronald Meddes, 73, and Regine Lansley, 62, who French acted as a UK agent for – collecting a 10 per cent commission – as well as selling black market veterinary medicines he bought from them in his own right. "You were an important cog in the Meddes machine, an important and persistent agent," Judge Ainley told him. "The fact you were sent to prison does not appear to have stopped you pursuing this illegal trade as soon as you left, knowing the Meddes empire was criminal." Four years ago, French was jailed after a BBC undercover reporter proved he was illegally treating pets and administering illegal drugs – pocketing £170,000 from dog owners, companies and hunts. He continued illegally supplying while on bail for those offences and after his release from a 12-month sentence. In e-mails to Meddes he described the drugs as "sweets". French sold to farms, stables, kennels, hunts, shoots and veterinary practices and the medicines supplied included anti-inflammatories, anabolic steroids, tranquillisers, antibiotics, sedatives, painkillers and other miscellaneous products administered to horses, household pets and farm animals. He was also well-known for selling out of the boot of his car at horse fairs around the country. He was arrested for possessing illegal medicines in May, 2009 and February this year when he kicked the arresting police officer in the groin. French's lawyer Ravi Dogra told the court: "He continues to see little wrong in his behaviour despite the convictions. "He says he has given his life to animals and will never stop doing that. "There does not appear to be any evidence of harm, but there is a risk in the unregulated way he was selling these products. "They were not counterfeit, but manufactured by companies with a positive reputation." French, appearing in the dock on a pair of crutches, said to investigators after he was sentenced: "I hope you die of cancer." 5 2 Report<p class="google-ads p10-t p20-r p20-b p20-l mod cld"> Ads by Google Teaching Assistant CourseCambridgeOpenCollege.co.uk £35 Deposit - Qualify In 4 Months. Level 3 Home Study, Friendly Tutors Death by dangerous drive?www.deathbydangerousdriving.info Don't leave your defence to chance Expert solicitors-proven results Animal Vetchampionvetcom-glasgow.co.uk Animal Care Expertise. Stirling/Falkirk Vet. <p class="comments modNotRel cld" id="comments"> 5 Comments by Lincs_FarmerTuesday, September 13 2011, 4:18PM“I think you'll find that not only are tranquilisers POM-V (Prescription only medicine – veterinarian. A medicine, to be supplied only on veterinary prescription, which must be prescribed (either orally or in writing) by a veterinarian to animals under his care following a clinical assessment, and which may be supplied by a veterinarian or pharmacist in accordance with the prescription) but also most of the other products this guy was selling were Licensed Merchant products (meaning only suitably Qualified Persons may sell them, i.e. those who have passes AMTRA exams and can provide advice).And I'm not sure which part of Eire you think you can buy them over the counter from, as I work in this industry in Ireland and know the legalities!Often animal medicines have different indications in different countries; for example, it may be legal in one country to say a drug does one thing which it isn't necessarily licensed for in another country. In addition, there are things such as varying storage conditions and varying warnings.There are plenty of reasons why this industry needs to be so heavily regulated, and people such as Leonard French should be made an example of.” Report by YellowbellyIIMonday, September 12 2011, 7:30PM“Any one can import these drugs from overseas using the internet perfectly legal providing you use them on your own animals, it becomes illegal when you sell these drugs to others ie undercutting vets.In Eire you can buy them over the counter in most pharmacies” Report by athomejuneMonday, September 12 2011, 4:59PM“He told me he was a vet and in a pop group in the 70s” Report by Phil1WMonday, September 12 2011, 11:45AM“I hope that when he's released Defra and the police are on his case 24/7. The police should be stopping his car to search it at every opportunity. And no way should he be allowed to change his name again.” Report by bigbarry1Monday, September 12 2011, 8:51AM“What a nice man!” Report Add your comments 4000 characters remaining News Headlines Latest Most Commented Red Arrows widow takes husband's place in 400-mile charity cycle... Lincolnshire highways boss 'not surprised' that people won't... 'Positive' talks over increase in direct Lincoln to London rail... 12-year-old boy stable after accident on Lincoln bypass E-fit of man wanted over sexual assault in Sleaford is released X Factor winner Matt Cardle in Lincoln visit Boston murder victim named by police Sleaford teenager admits manslaughter of 67-year-old man Sleaford and North Hykeham seat be abolished by next General... Radical changes to care allowances in Lincolnshire 'should not be... View all News Latest Comments “ I think you'll find that not only are tranquilisers POM-V (Prescription only medicine – veterinarian. A medicine, to be supplied only on veterinary prescription, which must be prescribed (either orally or in writing) by a... ”by Lincs_Farmer “ Any one can import these drugs from overseas using the internet perfectly legal providing you use them on your own animals, it becomes illegal when you sell these drugs to others ie undercutting vets. In Eire you can buy them over... ”by YellowbellyII View all comments5 Tell us about your area Got some interesting news? Write about it and let your whole community know. Write an article Quote Link to post
TOMO 24,880 Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 10 persent of 6 million is £600,000,,, if thats a year,, id do 6 month for that,,,, i cant belive hes not a vet well i like the old fella, and was only talking to him at a show 2 month back,,, hes always good for a laff. 2 Quote Link to post
Simoman 110 Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 This is old news fella, any reason to stick it up now? Quote Link to post
scent 509 Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 does he do viagrs or date rape Quote Link to post
Guest joball Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 Fair play to the guy, kicking one of them filthy c**ts in the groin lol 1 Quote Link to post
bigears 205 Posted September 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 This is old news fella, any reason to stick it up now? how is it old news fella it was on Monday 2 days ago Quote Link to post
Simoman 110 Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 This is old news fella, any reason to stick it up now? how is it old news fella it was on Monday 2 days ago My mistake, i thought Len had been sentenced ages ago............ Quote Link to post
the_stig 6,614 Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 he was`nt prenteding to be a vet people knew what they where getting at half the cost --- he aint a bad old boy good craic and always got summot to try n sell you -- far worse out thr than lee wilson 1 Quote Link to post
paulus 26 Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 good old ginger same old same old Quote Link to post
Strong Stuff 2,171 Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 10 persent of 6 million is £600,000,,, if thats a year,, id do 6 month for that,,,, i cant belive hes not a vet well i like the old fella, and was only talking to him at a show 2 month back,,, hes always good for a laff. You'll be next Tomo, selling those photocopied Escort Readers Wives magazines out of the back of your van ............. Quote Link to post
speedie 329 Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 A real old rouge but a great crack and a lot of lads on here could do with meeting him.Heard him tell 90% of the fairy tales that are told on here every day.WHAT A LAUGH HE IS LAUGHING HERE JUST THINKING ABOUT HIM.Nearly garauntee hel be selling to the screws before he gets out Quote Link to post
inan 841 Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 A real old rouge but a great crack and a lot of lads on here could do with meeting him.Heard him tell 90% of the fairy tales that are told on here every day.WHAT A LAUGH HE IS LAUGHING HERE JUST THINKING ABOUT HIM.Nearly garauntee hel be selling to the screws before he gets out I only ever bought wormers of him, I doubt anyone ever thought he was a Vet,He used to sell dogs at Lambourn ,out the back of a truck ,must be35/40 years ago.good laugh old Len , he can talk the hind legs off a donkey.never done me any harm. Quote Link to post
Guest hunterside Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 had wormers and penacilian off him save me a packet ginger will sell his gran if he had 1 lol. Quote Link to post
Blue one 89 Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 He sounds a bit like our PK, accept he does not sell vet products. Quote Link to post
hedz31 1,308 Posted September 14, 2011 Report Share Posted September 14, 2011 Bloody hell ye are abit late with this aint ye poor old len hes not a bad old bugger Quote Link to post
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