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Most wanted fugitive Anthony Judge behind bars after decade on run from Canterbury Crown Court

Anthony Judge was one of Britain's most-wanted men
Anthony Judge was one of Britain's most-wanted men

One of Britain's most wanted fugitives has finally been jailed in Kent - after 10 years on the run.

Father-of–two Anthony Judge vanished in 2003 just hours before he was to be sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court.

The 40-year-old Liverpudlian was expected to plead guilty to smuggling £362,000 of suspected drugs proceeds out through Kent.

But Judge stayed on the run – despite the fact his two fellow smugglers each received a year in prison and served just three months before being released.

He was listed among HMRC's 20 most-wanted fugitives – until he was stopped at Heathrow Airport travelling on what is believed to have been false documents.

Now he has been sent to prison for a year plus another seven months for jumping bail after finally pleading guilty to the offence.

The money – which is believed to be the proceeds of drug trafficking – was discovered in a spare wheel of a car Judge was travelling in with his two pals.

Prosecutor Stuart Biggs told the court checks later revealed Judge had made several journeys from Liverpool to Amsterdam in the year before his arrest.

His barrister Nicholas James said Judge had wanted to give himself up, but could not because of his two children.

Canterbury Crown Court
Canterbury Crown Court

Judge Simon James told him there would be many who think the one-year sentence his co-accused received was lenient because "it is apparent to me it must have been linked to drugs".

He added that despite being on the run for 10 years, the maximum sentence for jumping bail was just 12 months.

And because of his guilty plea, Judge was entitled to a discount - making a total of just 19 months.


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