Group sentenced for £3.5m online party drug business
- Published
Paula White, Christian White and Netta Hymanson all received custodial sentences
A businesswoman who led a multimillion-pound party drug business in Bolton has been jailed for nine years.
Paula White, 46, ran the operation which made over £3.5m selling "legal highs" over the internet, most of which contained controlled substances.
Bolton Crown Court heard White, an ex-director of now-defunct Chester City FC, "enjoyed a wealthy lifestyle" and was the scheme's principal beneficiary.
Officers said it was the largest "legal highs" police operation to date.
The court heard one man died after ingesting substances that had been found in the products being sold.
Grant Wooldridge, 46, from Newbury, died in 2012 after a festival in Bath. Police found evidence at his home that he had made purchases from one of White's websites.
Police raided Paula White's £800,000 home in Eccles in 2013
In 2009, White developed a business plan for the sale of drugs - legal at the time - through suppliers in the Netherlands and the Far East.
In April 2010, the substances became illegal but she knowingly continued to sell them, marked "not for human consumption".
The court heard White enlisted Netta Hymanson, 64, to manage a factory in Farnsworth, Greater Manchester.
The factory, known to staff as "Area 51", was "sophisticated, professional and operated on an industrial scale," Judge Peter Davies said.
White also enlisted her brother, Christian White, 39, website builder Rudie Chiu, 26, and 47-year-old administrator Sheena Jessop. Aniello Della-Croce, 30, and White's sister-in-law Michaela Doyle, 44, were also involved.
Drake Mill, a large industrial unit in Farnworth, was separated into areas for storing, freezing and packing drugs
When the 35 products on sale were tested, police found most contained controlled substances including class B drugs mephedrone and methylone.
Police said White had a £800,000 home in Eccles, a new Aston Martin car, a villa in Spain, designer jewellery and a £10,000 dog kennel. She admitted conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
Christian White, of Nelson Street, Higher Broughton, was sentenced to four years in jail after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
Netta Hymanson, of Circular Road, Prestwich, was given a four-year sentence after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
Rudie Chiu, of Masson Place, Manchester, received a two-year suspended sentence after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
Aniello Della Croce, of Bowker Vale Gardens, Manchester, was given an 18-month suspended sentence after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
Sheena Jessop, of Barwood Lea Mill, Ramsbottom, received a two-year suspended sentence after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
Michaela Doyle, of Tenbury Close, Pendleton, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and given a 12-month suspended sentence.