John Vasey today told of his shock at being sentenced to five years behind bars.
The lorry driver from Rickleton Village, Washington, was due back before a French court today for an appeal hearing, more than four years after first facing drug smuggling charges. The 48-year-old had just started piecing his life back together after he was accused of carrying £2.5m of cannabis across the border from Spain.After a nightmare 14-month spell in jail after his arrest, and losing his home, business and marriage, he was finally freed on bail in 2004.
He thought his ordeal was over for good, but he told yesterday how he is fighting again to clear his name after being issued fresh court papers.Today John revealed he has been living in silent torture for over a year, after judges found him guilty at a re-trial in October 2007.The dad-of-one was sentenced to five years in prison, which was suspended while he appealed against the verdict.From France, John said: “I was sick to the core when they delivered the verdict.”John returned to England with a brave face, determined to do all he could to win his appeal.But he had a massive task in hand, because under French law, it is up the lorry driver to prove he had no knowledge of the drugs in his load.“You have to prove your innocence, not the other way round,” said John. “They don’t present any witnesses or evidence.“That is why we have taken more photographs, and I have taken my own translator this time because it has been very difficult.“You feel very isolated in there, standing on your own in front of three judges. It is all conducted in French and the paperwork is all in French. We have to pay for everything ourselves to be translated.”It has been a harrowing time for his partner Suzie Eldin, also a lorry driver, who met John through work two years ago and lives with him in Washington.They tried to make the most of Christmas, knowing it could be their last together for a long time.She said: “It has been a long two years for me, but it has been even longer for his family.“It’s so difficult because under French law, you are responsible for what is in the pallets. But that’s like expecting your postman to open your letters and check for anything illegal before putting them through the letterbox.“We made the best of Christmas as we possibly could, just in case he is not here next year. And we had a good new year together too.“We have normal plans for the future like other couples, but our lives have been put on hold with this hanging over us.“John does not talk about it much. We live together, and he hardly discusses it with me. He knows the effect it has had on everyone, and I think he feels that by not talking about it he won’t add to it.”John’s parents Mary and Ken Vasey are desperate for an end to their ordeal, throughout which they have campaigned tirelessly to clear his name.He has also had the constant support of his cousin Sue Austerberry and her husband John, who are both with John in Montpellier in the south of France today.
Grandma-of-seven Mary, of Lambton, Washington, said: “It has taken its toll on our health.“We have both aged a lot throughout it all, and my memory has got a lot worse. I try not to think about it, I just keep busy. John is like me, he buries his head in the sand too.”His family enlisted the help of Newcastle lawyer Clive McKeag at the outset, and he is still fighting John’s case today.Mr McKeag explained why John was granted leave to appeal against his verdict and sentence.He said: “The judge ordered that a whole lot of investigations had to be done. These investigations have never been made, and we are extremely concerned about it.”
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