Dear Mr Wilson, u.k

7 queen cottage reading rg1

I am a self-employed mother of 4, eldest being aged 18, youngest age 16 months.

At approximately 9:00am On 9th June 2005, I was awaken by a knock at my door. My husband Senior attended to it and it was his nephew Donald Sterling. He then came back upstairs whilst I got ready and left for work at my office, leaving them and my 3 year old at the property. Having arrived at work, I attended to my daily routine of making the office presentable for the daily activities (drawing blinds, cleaning floor, dusting, polishing, putting out sign board etc,.)After settling down and now ready for the day's challenges, I realised there was a printer problem. I telephoned home to my husband requesting if he could try and fix the problem. He arrived around 10:15am, he fixed the problem and left.

Having discussed from the previous night to purchase a filing cabinet, I persumed my husband was going to the garage we rent for business purposes, to store buildig tools, materials and products, to get his van as it needed off-loading.

He arrived back at the office at 10:40am requesting 'if he had left any keys'. I replied 'no' and he left. I received a telephone call 15 mins later from DC Carter, requesting that I returned home as they were arresting Donald Sterling.

I arrived home and found the surroundings covered with police officers and my front door smashed in. I began making my way throughout the property to enquire what was happening. I was told to ‘remain in the front room by Dc Sally Powell. 10 mins after my arrival, I was approached by a 7’ tall, medium built, faired hair white male whom asked “are you Pauline?” and then went on to explain that he had a warrant to search my property under the ‘mis-use of drugs act’. I asked to see the warrant and he left. At around 11:30am I was shown a copy of the warrant by whom I now know to be DC Harton-Carter. The dog handler arrived with him and the search began. It lasted for at least 2hrs..When it was finished, DC Powell told me to sign some paperwork. I was very reluctant at first as I did not know what I was signing. However I began to sign as I was led to believe that I had to sign. Then decided not to as I still felt uncomfortable. DC Powell got ‘stroppy’and left. Drugs were recovered from a shed at the back of my garden, underneath and between paving slabs. Also at the garage.

Troughout the whole duration of the search I remained in the front room except for the exception of asking if I could make a cup of tea. Half way throughout the search I was told “by the way we’ve got your husband”.

3 months later as I was arriving home from work around 5:45pm, I met DC Powell as I was reversing in. She explained she had just left a message with Senior. Having made my way inside my husband handed me a card from DC Powell requesting that I contacted her. This I did. During our telephone conversation she made it clear she wanted to talk to me about the incident which took place on 9th June 2005. An appointment was made for me to attend the station within a couple of days. At the police station DC Powell told me she was arresting me. I was ‘speechless’. I was cautioned, interviewed, then released on unconditional bail.

In March 2006 my husband and I was charged with possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.

Our trial commenced on 14th April 2008 and lasted 9 days. I was found guilty on 4 counts. My husband was found guilty on 5. I was devastated and very much surprised. We have both been released on conditional bail to the ‘probation officer’ until 23rd May 2008 for pre-sentence reporting.

I had absolutely no knowledge of any drugs being in the garden or the garage. Neither did I participate in any norcotic activities at my home or elsewhwere.

THE PROSECUTION DID NOT HAVE ONE SHRED OF EVIDENCE TO PROVE OR LINK OUR ENVOLVEMENT.

After all has been said and done, right now I am feeling very hurt and bitter, knowing I am not guilty and knowing the consequences which follows. My whole livelihood is on the line and presently it is all being taken away by ‘mis-carriage of justice’.

P.SMITH