Briton held in ‘dial-a-deal’ drug probe

A BRITISH fitness fanatic has been arrested in Sydney for allegedly supplying 10oz of cocaine.

Sarah Rutherford, 29, is accused by police of being involved in a “dial-a-deal” service in the Australian city.

Police said they seized mobile phones, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and documents when they raided her home.

Officers claim that

THE first person caught in Britain using new facial-recognition technology appeared in court yesterday accused of punching and kicking police officers – and was immediately released on bail.

Serah Aluko, 35, who was wanted for failing to appear in court to answer charges of assaulting three officers, was apprehended thanks to the new hi-tech system in Oxford Street, central London, on Thursday.

When she appeared in the dock at Westminster magistrates court yesterday,Aluko pleaded not guilty to three charges of assaulting an emergency service worker and was immediately freed on unconditional bail.

Victims

Rutherford, originally from Bridgwater, Somerset, co-ordinated the dealer service and is responsible for the quantity of cocaine being supplied between last September and earlier this month.

Rutherford has been refused bail and will appear at Bankstown court on Friday.

Her arrest came as part of Strike Force Delaven, a taskforce investigating the illegal drug trade in Australia.

The unit was set up by the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad last year.

Charges brought against Rutherford include supplying the drug on an ongoing basis and knowingly or recklessly directing a criminal group.

Police say they are continuing with their inquiries.

Rutherford ‘co-ordinated service’