former police chief whose son was jailed for 23 years for smuggling £135 million worth of cocaine and heroin has criticised one of Britain’s biggest forces for its “wrongful portrayal” of her son as the “kingpin” of the operation.
Sue Arnold, a former deputy police and crime commissioner, also claimed she and her husband “have been the victims of some policing sharp practice”.
Mrs Arnold, 63, a former Conservative parliamentary candidate, questioned West Midlands Police’s depiction of her son Jonathan as the ringleader of a criminal gang that imported two tonnes of drugs to the UK.
The regional organised crime unit had described Jonathan Arnold as “the head of the crime group” who had “enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, driving luxury cars and enjoying trips to Dubai”.
He had bought Ferraris, expensive watches and even spent the proceeds of crime on a new set of teeth, using his removals company Real Estates Removals as a front for his drugs business.
Arnold, 30, had previously pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court to four charges of conspiracy to import and supply drugs, prior to being sentenced on Friday to 23 years and six months in jail.
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