Library Image – Canterbury Crown Court
A heroin smuggler who tried to convince a jury that he was framed by an accomplice wearing his jumper has been jailed for nine years at Canterbury Crown Court.
The 44-year-old Jon-Paul Clark from Crosby, Liverpool, was convicted following a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into the importation of 40kg of heroin, which carried an estimated street value of £4 million.
Clark organised the massive shipment alongside co-conspirator Rajesh Bakshi, 57, of Haddington, East Lothian. The load was intercepted at Dover in June 2022. Investigators found Clark’s DNA on the drug packaging, along with Bakshi’s fingerprints.
While Bakshi admitted to smuggling the Class A drug, Clark maintained his innocence. During his trial at Canterbury Crown Court, he claimed his DNA was present only because Bakshi had borrowed and worn his jumper, suggesting an elaborate framing attempt. But the jury at Canterbury Crown Court saw through this unusual “jumper defence” and convicted him. Bakshi was also jailed on 27 November for 10 years.
The investigation revealed that Clark’s and Bakshi’s mobile phones were both traced to be travelling in Holland and Belgium in the days immediately preceding the seizure. Officers also recovered a photo of the two men together on Clark’s phone, taken shortly before the drugs were intercepted. Further texts showed Clark asking Bakshi for cash in the weeks after the seizure. Bakshi has multiple previous convictions for drug supply offences.
Jules Harriman, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, commented:
“My officers built a solid case against Clark who clearly tried to pull the wool over the jury’s eyes. There was clear evidence of his guilt, and the jury at Canterbury Crown Court saw through his attempts to cheat justice. Both offenders didn’t have the slightest care for the impact Class A drugs have on our communities.”