Jail for drug granny of Tunbridge Wells

A GRANDMOTHER who ran a multi-million-pound drugs empire that stretched across southern England was jailed for 15 years yesterday.

Evelyn Fleckney, a self-styled drugs baroness, operated her trade in ecstasy, cocaine and cannabis from a four-bedroomed house in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

She described herself as the "chairman of the board" and once boasted: "There are not many drug dealers like me. Go and find another bird that can get what I get."

The South East Regional Crime Squad agreed. A spokeswoman said: "She was certainly the first drugs baroness to be convicted in our area and is possibly the first in the country."

Southwark Crown Court in London heard that to minimise the risk of detection Fleckney, 41, never handled the drugs herself, always ensured they were stashed in "isolated" country hideaways and dealt with her minions with a "rod of iron". Police believe she learnt her trade from big league underworld figures.

Before her arrest, police had watched her for moths, and her every word was recorded.

Fleckney, who has two children, was convicted of conspiracy to supply ecstasy, cocaine and cannabis.

Her former boyfriend, James Smith, 32, also of Tunbridge Wells, was found guilty of conspiring to supply ecstasy and cannabis and possessing amphetamine sulphate with intent to supply. He was jailed for 12 years.