Originally published 17 April 2013;
Diane Gibson, 72, disappeared after being caught with 3kgs of cocaine in 2000, worth an estimated £240,000.
Although she was convicted of possession and intent to supply, she fled before sentencing.
Diane Gibson, 72, disappeared after being caught with 3kgs of cocaine in 2000, worth an estimated £240,000.
At the time, detectives believed that Gibson might have escaped to Spain in disguise.
However, police found and arrested her at her daughter’s home in Bristol on Tuesday, and she appeared in court later that day.
Josie, 28, was also present at the court hearing, which resulted in the pensioner being remanded in custody until May 9th.
Josie, 28, was also present at the court hearing
It is believed that Diane has spent the last decade hiding in the North.
Speaking after the hearing, her prosecutor explained Dianne’s criminal history, which dates back to 1999, confirming:
'She was put back for sentence and for a Proceeds of Crime Application (POCA) to be considered. She refused to comply with the POCA.
'The court adjourned sentence to the October [2000] and she failed to attend and has been absent ever since.
'She was found by police in the house of a family member in Yate.’
Referring to Diane being found in her daughter’s house, he added:
'Consideration is being made as to whether anyone will be prosecuted for assisting an offender.’
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Gibson was originally arrested in 1999, when police pulled her car over after they found her ‘acting suspiciously’. Although she claimed she was carrying ‘rare books’, a search of her car revealed 3kgs of cocaine in the boot.
Diane fled before her sentencing, and was at the time described by Detective Constable Paul Kerrod as 'an evil woman who was determined to bring cocaine into this country and distribute it'.
Diane’s lawyer maintained that they wanted to appeal the conviction, explaining that she had been distraught at the time of the arrest, having lost a second daughter. He added:
'She has been in the north of England, having returned recently to Yate.
'She is in poor health, has obvious mobility issues, a kidney and haemorrhaging problem.'
Dianne has been remanded in custody until May 9th 2013.
Granddaughter Josie, who won Big Brother 11 in 2010 declined to comment.