Murderer Melvyn McLellan's mother and stepfather jailed for producing cannabis after judge dismisses cover-up claims

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Thursday, October 25, 2012
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Grimsby Telegraph

A MOTHER and her partner were jailed for producing cannabis after a judge dismissed "fantastical" and "preposterous" claims they were victims of corrupt police officers trying to cover up framing her son for murder 18 years ago.

Barbara Wakefield and Nick Riley, of Sixhills Street, Grimsby – the mother and stepfather of convicted murderer Melvyn 'Aidie' McLellan – were jailed at Grimsby Crown Court after fighting their accusations of cannabis production for two years.

  1. MURDERER: Melvyn McLellan.

    MURDERER: Melvyn McLellan.

However, the couple still contest the facts, telling the court that they were the victims of police corruption.

The court heard police found 1.5kg of cannabis in their former Heneage Road home in three separate rooms in October 2010.

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Riley, 47, claimed that he had taken the equipment from the home of a friend, Jason Short, who he found hanging in his Grimsby Road home on July 28, 2010, which the police attended.

He had originally claimed that the 1.5kg of cannabis, worth £3,340, was for personal medicinal use.

However, representing himself at the latest hearing, he tried to retract his guilty plea in favour of an even more outlandish defence.

Riley claimed to the court that his deceased friend Short bought his cannabis production equipment – which he believed was seized by police from previous operations – from two police officers for £1,000, promising a share of the crop.

He alleged at the hearing that one of these officers, Dave Chapman, had become involved in a relationship with Vicky Sanders, the former lover of McLellan, and the two conspired to have him framed for the murder of Gregory Dalton in 1995 – and he had since adopted McLellan's daughter.

McLellan used this conspiracy as a defence in 1997 and the jury rejected it and convicted him – but Riley told the court he had evidence that the police were trying to "shut me up".

Riley claimed that he was growing the cannabis because the two officers in question "would be back for it", intending to set them up to be caught.

Judge Graham Buckingham dismissed his "serious allegations" as "fantastical", sentencing him to 15 months in prison for the production of a controlled drug.

Wakefield, 59, previously claimed that she had no knowledge of the operation but was proven guilty by a jury after a trial.

Judge Robinson also said that Wakefield's claim that she was "unaware" of the operation was "preposterous", given its scale, and sentenced her to eight weeks in prison for allowing a controlled substance to be produced on her premises.

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  • Profile image for gy82a

    by gy82a

    Saturday, October 27 2012, 8:51AM

    “44wick a bit obvious really booze is more readily available and more importantly legal so really a non starter there, abit like racing usain bolt against steven hawkins over 100m ?? whos your money on??”

  • Profile image for 44wick

    by 44wick

    Friday, October 26 2012, 3:25PM

    “In the UK it is claimed that 75% of class A drug users have used or are still using cannabis.
    The survey also showed that 94% of class A drug users have used or are still using alcohol.
    Maybe we should look at banning both alcohol and cannabis.”

  • Profile image for sociallysuper

    by sociallysuper

    Friday, October 26 2012, 8:04AM

    “There are none so blind as those that refuse to see. Keep on believing the propaganda people. Why wouldn't you? Afterall the Government are well known for being honest aren't they?”

  • Profile image for gy82a

    by gy82a

    Friday, October 26 2012, 4:42AM

    “sour you are very selective on what you regurgatate of the net, its obvious that you use the stuff and enjoy it but you are far more blinkered in your views due to the disscusions you have with fellow users , you claimed earlier that the use of this mind altering drug does not lead to stronger substance abuse well due to the type of people you meet from the use (dealers, no hopers , ect) you are more likely to come across these items , in refrence to the profs, docs, and the like you quote you can find experts to back up stories on little green men, fairys ,jfks magic bullet, so if the intake of this is how you deal with life so be it, but some gullible youngsters may be inexperienced enough to listen to your dubious research so keep you misinformed views to yourself. I have also noticed your intolerance, paranoia, impatiance and blinkered views all traits (alledgedly ) of canabis abuse...”

  • Profile image for Grantyy

    by Grantyy

    Thursday, October 25 2012, 10:12PM

    “Sour judging by your pic....Thanks but I'd rather not!
    What do you get out of pedaling these spam messages, if you want it it's not difficult and so if others want it they can make their own minds up, the people I know who smoke it lead a very slow, relaxed lifestyle, nothing ever changes with them including their employment status, maybe it's not so dangerous to health but it certainly seems to be negatively effect peoples lifestyle, cannabis smokers seem to relaxed to achieve much but plenty bum off society (not all)”

  • Profile image for SourAlienOG

    by SourAlienOG

    Thursday, October 25 2012, 8:18PM

    “gy82a

    '' dope contains benzene which is carcinagenic '' - Your thinking of cigarettes, cannabis contains cannabinoids which are anti cancer. Do some research instead of being spoonfed misinformation.

    Pulmonary Research Donald Tashkin, Professor Grinspoon, Professor Nutt and many more scientists and experts have proven you wrong. Over, and over, and over again lol”

  • Profile image for gy82a

    by gy82a

    Thursday, October 25 2012, 8:03PM

    “just ignore the ratings system let rhem have that little bit of fun in there life . do you realise you are being manipulated all your stats and infomation are not researched by yourself but gleamed of web pages which could be created by puff pirates also dope contains benzene which is carcinagenic . dont become another victim of conspirace therys it allways ends in tears really must go its old boots b-day....”

  • Profile image for SourAlienOG

    by SourAlienOG

    Thursday, October 25 2012, 7:32PM

    “gy82a

    Mr Ex toker more like :)

    And yes, someone has found out how to cheat the voting system, and follows anti prohibition people around like a virtual internet stalker, 'red arrowing' anyone with a controversial opinion, believing the public will perceive this as how the majority thinks. 'green arrowing' anyone who is anti drugs (Im anti drugs, but unlike Mr Silent prohibitionist i am also anti drug dealers and anti harmless kids getting sent to jail) People like the person who goes as far as to manipulate and cheat the voting system makes me wonder, why do they prefer criminals controlling drugs? I thought a drugs policy was about harm reduction? Maybe mr prohibitionist is a drug dealing scumbag, and knows prohibition keeps him paid and would go to any length to ensure he stays in business.

    A link to show you who the majority really is :)

    http://tinyurl.com/cppvjv6

    As for cannabis and toxicity, yes, even water can produce a fatal overdose when abused, thats true. There are probably records somewhere to show how many people died directly from overdosing on water. The thing with cannabis is, you wont be able to find one recorded document of cannabis causing death through out the 10,000 years humans have been using it.

    The truth is, sad pathetic people like this internet stalking voting system manipulating troll are showing the true colours of the prohibitionist :)”

  • Profile image for gy82a

    by gy82a

    Thursday, October 25 2012, 6:26PM

    “everything is toxic in a large enough dose even water so you have fallen at the first hurdle mr toker but you are correct that we dont need the ratings system playing with come on this is a democracy I think, got to go now see you again tommorrow...”

  • Profile image for SourAlienOG

    by SourAlienOG

    Thursday, October 25 2012, 5:23PM

    “ahhh, and hear comes along the silent prohibitionist manipulating the arrow voting system once again, thinking the general public are as unintelligent as said troll. The word pathetic is an understatement.”

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