Drug smuggler, 63, jailed for eight years

A 63-year-old woman was jailed yesterday for eight years for masterminding an international plot to smuggle cocaine into Britain.

Eileen Cresswell, who uses a wheelchair, was found guilty by a majority verdict at Bristol crown court of playing an integral role in importing thousands of pounds of the class A drug from the West Indies.

The jury took two and a half hours to convict the former post office worker of organising a gang of couriers to smuggle cocaine between April 1 1997 and March 21 1998.

Cresswell, of Gloucester, who was known as "Nan" to her friends, recruited couriers to travel to the West Indies and bring back drugs in cavities in their shoes, the court heard. Not only did she help to book and pay for their flights, she would drive them to and from Gatwick airport.

Once in Jamaica, the "mules" would be met by her contacts, have their shoes adapted, and be given drugs.

Cresswell, who denied the charge, would ensure the "mules" travelled in pairs to deflect suspicion.

The court was told about a series of trips to the West Indies between April 1997 and March 1998 which were run by Cresswell.

She had helped five named members of the conspiracy, Shaun Webb, Kathleen Turner, Lee Cooper, Brian Stubbs and James Barrett, to travel to the West Indies and return with drugs. All have been found guilty or admitted involvement.

It was only when a woman recruited as a mule's companion blew the whistle that the smuggling ring was blown.

Cresswell went on the run while on bail in September 1998, but gave herself up in March 2002. Cresswell, a mother of two, has suffered two severe strokes and a heart attack in the past three years.