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A pharmacy technician who was convicted for her part in an attempt to smuggle almost £600,000 worth of cocaine into Britain has been struck off by the General Pharmaceutical Council. 

Leanne Marie Richardson, who was previously employed at Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, was found guilty of participating in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on importing cocaine at Liverpool Crown Court on March 7 this year, and on June 20 was sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment. 

Ms Richardson and her partner were stopped when re-entering the UK after a holiday in Jamaica, with a search of their suitcases uncovering almost 22kg of cocaine of high purity hidden in the lining of their suitcases. The drugs had a street value of approximately £594,000.

According to the report from Ms Richardson’s recent fitness to practise hearing, her partner had “arranged for the return to the UK” but in doing so had told her that they “would leave their suitcases lightly filled and marked with a ribbon”. 

Ms Richardson, who did not attend the FtP hearing, denies any knowledge of her partner’s plans to smuggle drugs into the UK. 

She previously told the GPhC in a written questionnaire: “Whilst I was found guilty by a jury, I still maintain I was not aware of the situation I had been involved in until I was stopped at Manchester Airport.

“However, I am fully aware of the severity of such a conviction and the impact that has on my profession – so I am willing to be removed from the register.” 

However, the judge’s sentencing remarks revealed she had tied the ribbons to their luggage and had taken pictures of the suitcases and forwarded these so that they could be identified and the cocaine placed in them. 

Ms Richardson’s partner “accepted the bulk of the responsibility” but the jury found nonetheless that Ms Richardson was “a willing participant”.  

The FtP committee found that her insight into her misconduct was “extremely limited” as she continues to deny the crime of which she was found guilty and has not demonstrated regret or taken steps to prevent a repetition of the behaviour. 

It acknowledged Ms Richardson’s previous good character but said “that good character of some 11 years had been forfeited by such a serious offence.” 

The committee also noted that her actions had risked causing “significant harm to the public” and had involved “deliberate action” and “some degree of planning,” but acknowledged that she had played a “limited role” in the offending behaviour and had not initiated or organised the smuggling attempt.

The FtP committee concluded that the “only appropriate and proportionate outcome” was to remove her from the register, with an interim order put in place preventing her from practising during the 28-day appeal period. 

Related: Diazepam black market pair struck off in back-to-back hearings

Pharmacist struck off for opiate theft and ‘sexualised banter’