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Ray of hope for John Vasey
Page 18
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Jennifer Ball reports on the Vasey family's belief that they might soon bring John home. It is possible that the driver will be released on 18 November.
JOI IN VASEY. the truck driver jailed in France for allegedly smuggling £2.5m of cannabis could be released from prison later this month.
Last Thursday (29 October) Vasey appeared before three independent judges at the country's Supreme Court in Montpellier to pursue his case on a technicality after losing his appeal hearing in August; his lawyer considers his case has been handled incorrectly (CM,18 September).
While Vasey's appeal was being heard, his family and friends held a demonstration at Dover port for his release. Vasey's mother Mary says: "The weather was wet and windy. but 15 vehicles still turned up and drove slowly around the dock area for around two hours. Our aim was to bring the attention of both British and foreign drivers to the plight of John and other drivers imprisoned abroad for unknowingly carrying illegal substances in sealed boxes on shrink-wrapped pallets, which it is impossible for them to check.
"The court will give its decision on 18 November at 6pm. John's father Ken. his son David and I will be visiting him at that time —hopefully to bring him home."
Vasey. owner of Houghton-LeSpring-based JD Vasey Ransport, was stopped by French customs on 28 February on his way back from Spain. His truck was searched and cannabis resin was found in pallets of ceramic tiles which he had collected from a regular Spanish customer in Barcelona (CM, 31July).