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UK: Cambridge Two lose appeal

01 January 2001

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Ruth Wyner and John Brock who were jailed in the first case of its kind for "knowingly permitting" the sale of heroin at a drop-in centre for the homeless in Cambridge have lost their appeal to have their convictions quashed. The two were sentenced to five and four years respectively (see Statewatch vol 10 no 1) but were released last July pending their appeal, after serving 207 days.
On 21 December Lord Justice Rose, one of the three Court of Appeal judges, said the conviction stood because: "This case must serve as a warning that no-one, however well intentioned, can with impunity permit their premises to be used for the supply of Class A drugs." The judges did rule that their sentences were "very significantly too high" and reduced them to 14 months (or a lesser term that ensured their immediate release) but stated that prison was an appropriate punishment for the offence.
Wyner and Brock, described by Lord Rose as having "hitherto impeccable character", continue to contest that they had done as much as they could to prevent dealing. Ruth Wyner said she felt "badly misrepresented by the court" and felt "especially bad for the people working in the homeless sector who have sword of Damocles hanging over them." The two intend to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights.

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