14/12/04 - Ex-soccer club boss is jailed over drugs
By MALCOLM BENNIE and JO BELL
Basildon Echo

Kingpin - Kim Webber is jailed for 14 years


Jailed - Raymond Marten


Ten Years - Francis Sims

THE FORMER vice-chairman of Basildon Football Club has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his part in a drugs conspiracy. Kim Webber, 46, of London Road, Leigh, was fingered as the kingpin in an operation involving huge quantities of amphetamines and cannabis.

Appearing at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, the second-hand car dealer was sentenced, by "Judge Charles Gratwicke to seven years for conspiracy to produce amphetamines and another seven years for supplying cannabis.

The conviction followed a long running surveillance operation by the Metropolitan Police tailing Webber's every move for months.He was eventually seen unloading cannabis packages from the boot of his car into a van which was then stopped by police in Kent. Inside were three packages containing nearly 50kg of soft drugs.

Judge Gratwicke said: "It's clear that you were right in the heart of the conspiracy; you played an active role. "I have little doubt, having presided over your trial in relation to the conspiracy to supply the 47 kilos of cannabis resin, that you played a significant role in the autumn of last year in the drug world of south Essex."

Webber had pleaded guilty to the amphetamines charge, but was convicted at trial on the cannabis charge after pleading not guilty. Three other co-defendants were also sentenced in court, with Francis Sims, from Chelmsford, receiving ten years.

Judge Gratwicke told Marten: "This is not the first occasion that you have appeared before the courts for such an offence - you were convicted in 1992 of a similar offence. "You clearly, along with Webber, were right in the heart of the conspiracy." David Ferguson, from Reading, and van driver Raymond Marten, of the Isle of Sheppey, were both sentenced to four and a half years for their part.