Ex-drugs trafficking gang member who fled to Thailand is being brought back to UK after failing to escape detectives

A fugitive who trafficked tens of thousands of pounds' worth of cocaine into the country and later fled to Thailand while serving another sentence is today being brought back to the UK.
By Susie Beever
Published 16th Sep 2020, 15:08 BST
Updated 16th Sep 2020, 15:12 BST

Ross Hemington was jailed in January 2016 for his part in a gang which imported the drugs into the UK from India hidden in fake designer handbags.

A North Yorkshire Police investigation into the gang led to the 33-year-old being jailed in 2011.

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Following his release, Hemington was jailed again for four years in 2016 for possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Ross HemingtonRoss Hemington
Ross Hemington

The convicted drug dealer broke the terms of his licence after being released partway through his sentence, fleeing the country to Thailand.

North Yorkshire Police then launched investigation to find him, and issued a wanted appeal containing his custody photograph.

The case was picked up by the Force Intelligence Bureau, which has officers who specialise in locating wanted criminals who abscond abroad.

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They used a range of investigative techniques and worked with Interpol and Thai authorities to close in on Hemington, who is originally from Darlington.

Hemington was jailed in 2011 and again in 2016 for drugs trafficking and dealing offences involving cocaineHemington was jailed in 2011 and again in 2016 for drugs trafficking and dealing offences involving cocaine
Hemington was jailed in 2011 and again in 2016 for drugs trafficking and dealing offences involving cocaine

He was arrested last month by Thai police and held in a Thai prison before being brought back to UK today (Wednesday). He will be taken directly to prison and could now face an additional spell in jail for breaking the terms of his licence.

Intelligence management officer Paul Somerville, one of the officers who led the investigation, said: “Hemington has a history of serious drug offences and had been part of a gang that trafficked huge amounts of class A drugs into England.

“Prison licences are designed to keep people and communities safe, so when a serious offender like Hemington breaks these conditions and flees the country, we try all means at our disposal to find them and bring them to justice.

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“While we cannot reveal details about the investigative techniques we use, we employ a wide range of methods and run many lines of enquiry at the same time to trace people who don’t want to be found.

Hemington is being brought back to the UK today (Wednesday) to serve the remainder of his sentenceHemington is being brought back to the UK today (Wednesday) to serve the remainder of his sentence
Hemington is being brought back to the UK today (Wednesday) to serve the remainder of his sentence

“When criminals flee justice, they run and they hide, but they spend every day looking over their shoulder. And one of those days, we will be there.”

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