Michael Michael
Encyclopedia
Michael Michael was a British supergrass, or police informer, whose evidence led to 34 people being jailed for 170 years, and the dismantling of 26 different drug syndicates. He was born Constantine Michael Michael to Greek Cypriot parents in Birmingham on November 12, 1957.
Among people he informed on were his wife Lynn, given a 24-month jail sentence suspended for two years for her role as a cash courier, and his younger brother, Xanthos, his lover, Sue Richards and Janice Marlborough, his business lieutenant who ran his string of brothels.
Michael's evidence led to drugs worth £49m being recovered from a distribution network that is thought to have smuggled more than 110 kg of cocaine and 19,000 kg of cannabis into Britain. Michael has also alleged that a corrupt police officer took £10,000 cash handouts from him.
Information about Michael's work as an informer were kept secret until December 2001, when a judge at Woolwich crown court sentenced him to six years in jail. Reporting restrictions that had been in place for three years were lifted.
Michael had admitted one count of conspiracy to import cocaine, a similar charge involving cannabis, and three conspiracies to launder the proceeds. He has also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm.
Michael, who lived in Radlett
, Hertfordshire, is thought to have been given a new identity under the terms of the witness protection programme.
Michael, a former hairdresser and unqualified accountant, became a target for customs detectives in January 1998 when the agency launched Operation Draft. He had been identified as a member of a drug ring based at the Lee industrial estate in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, that was smuggling cannabis and cocaine into the country in cars, a coach (nicknamed the Fun Bus) and a tanker.
When officers arrested him four months later on April 25, Michael was wearing body armour and brandished a gun.
Woolwich Crown Court
heard that Michael alleged he was paying his handler up to £10,000 a week in return for providing information "of great value" to Michael's operation. He claimed the officer turned a blind eye to the smuggling.
Also jailed was Michael 's younger brother Xanthos, and trusted associate Janice Marlborough, have both been jailed. Tracey Kirby, 38, a former Sun page three model, received three years after admitting being a money courier. She has since been released.
Among people he informed on were his wife Lynn, given a 24-month jail sentence suspended for two years for her role as a cash courier, and his younger brother, Xanthos, his lover, Sue Richards and Janice Marlborough, his business lieutenant who ran his string of brothels.
Michael's evidence led to drugs worth £49m being recovered from a distribution network that is thought to have smuggled more than 110 kg of cocaine and 19,000 kg of cannabis into Britain. Michael has also alleged that a corrupt police officer took £10,000 cash handouts from him.
Information about Michael's work as an informer were kept secret until December 2001, when a judge at Woolwich crown court sentenced him to six years in jail. Reporting restrictions that had been in place for three years were lifted.
Michael had admitted one count of conspiracy to import cocaine, a similar charge involving cannabis, and three conspiracies to launder the proceeds. He has also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm.
Michael, who lived in Radlett
Radlett
Radlett is a small town in the county of Hertfordshire between St Albans and Borehamwood on Watling Street with a population of approximately 8,000. It is located in the council district of Hertsmere and is covered by two wards, Aldenham East and Aldenham West...
, Hertfordshire, is thought to have been given a new identity under the terms of the witness protection programme.
Michael, a former hairdresser and unqualified accountant, became a target for customs detectives in January 1998 when the agency launched Operation Draft. He had been identified as a member of a drug ring based at the Lee industrial estate in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, that was smuggling cannabis and cocaine into the country in cars, a coach (nicknamed the Fun Bus) and a tanker.
When officers arrested him four months later on April 25, Michael was wearing body armour and brandished a gun.
Woolwich Crown Court
Woolwich Crown Court
Woolwich Crown Court, located at 2 Belmarsh Road, Thamesmead is one of twelve Crown Courts serving Greater London.It stands adjacent to both HM Prison Belmarsh and Belmarsh Magistrate's Court. Operational from 1993, it has 7 courtrooms and deals with more than 750 cases a year. Until recently,...
heard that Michael alleged he was paying his handler up to £10,000 a week in return for providing information "of great value" to Michael's operation. He claimed the officer turned a blind eye to the smuggling.
Also jailed was Michael 's younger brother Xanthos, and trusted associate Janice Marlborough, have both been jailed. Tracey Kirby, 38, a former Sun page three model, received three years after admitting being a money courier. She has since been released.