Novichok scare drug dealer rescued off N.Wales jailed
A PLAYBOY drug dealer who sparked fears of a fresh Novichok attack when he collapsed in a Salisbury restaurant has been jailed after six months on the run.
Alex King, 42, was sentenced to 11 years in his absence in January after he was found guilty of selling drugs including cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine.
He went on the run in December after a string of failed attempts to avoid justice, including his false claim to have been poisoned in a branch of Prezzo, while dining with his Russianborn wife, Anna Shapiro.
The scheme sparked a major incident last September, six months after Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia fell ill shortly after leaving Zizzi, another Italian dining chain in the city, after coming into contact with the deadly nerve agent.
The previous month, King and his wife had to be rescued while sailing off the Welsh coast by Porthdinllaen RNLI after the boat they bought in Holyhead ran out of fuel: Llangefni car dealer Mark Overend, who was at the boatyard, said the couple seemed to have no idea how to sail.
King’s attempts to avoid justice finally came to an end last Wednesday when he was arrested at an address in Chiltern Street, Marylebone, west London.
He was taken to Southwark Crown Court, where he was jailed for another four months on top of his 11-year sentence after admitting breaching his bail.
Scotland Yard said a 30-year-old woman who was arrested for assisting an offender remains in police custody.
King’s “bizarre” party lifestyle was laid bare in court earlier this year as he was convicted of two charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, one charge of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs and one charge of conspiracy to supply Class C drugs.
Jurors were told he sold drugs, including cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine, and arranged high-class escorts, including his wife, to make money.