Showjumper’s father smuggled £4m of cocaine

A TOP showjumper wept in court yesterday as her father was jailed for smuggling £4million worth of cocaine into Britain in a horsebox.

Dutch horse dealer Mari Van Gerwen, 52, said he had committed the crime partly to fund his 27-year-old daughter Jody’s career.

She has taken part in numerous international competitions, while her father – a former showjumper like his wife – owns stables and training facilities.

But he was caught by border guards at Dover with 110lb of cocaine hidden in a compartment in his horsebox.

At Canterbury Crown Court, Van Gerwen claimed he had been forced by a gang to smuggle the Class A drug into the country.

Sentencing him to 17 years, the judge noted that ‘at least part’ of his motivation was to support his daughter’s ‘very expensive career’.

Van Gerwen arrived at Dover Eastern Docks with two horses in a horsebox last July, the court heard. Asked by Border Force officials what the purpose of his visit was, he said the horses were to be sold at Bracknell, Berkshire.

But after officers found 5,000 euros in his pockets they searched the horsebox and discovered the Class A drug. Initially, Van Gerwen denied all knowledge of the cocaine, but after his arrest 270,000 euros in cash was found at his home in Limbricht, 120 miles south-east of Amsterdam.

Judge Rupert Lowe told Van Gerwen: ‘I accept you run a legitimate horse trading business and you spend a good deal of your time running a riding school and assisting you daughter’s career.

‘I am confident that you were not the boss of this enterprise but a courier and you got involved in order to make money.

‘This trial took place against a background of the very successful career of your daughter Jody as an international showjumper.

‘That is an extremely expensive occupation, notwithstanding the sponsorship and prize money. I am confident part of your motivation was to further the cause of her career at the highest level.’

Miss Van Gerwen, who gave evidence in her father’s defence, was in court for sentencing. The judge said: ‘I don’t imagine for a moment he let her know what he was doing. She has been an innocent victim and she will suffer for this.’

Van Gerwen faced a similar charge at Reading Crown Court 18 months ago, after officers in Berkshire found him with 22lb of cocaine and £22,320 in cash – but he was found not guilty.

Darren Herbert of the National Crime Agency said: ‘The organised criminals involved in distribution of cocaine are often linked to violence and exploitation. They rely heavily on smugglers like Van Gerwen. His was a key role in a longer, damaging chain.’