Innocent of drugs and guns charges

11:29am Friday 10th August 2001

A 22-year-old West Norwood man, charged with a series of drug and firearm offences has been acquitted by a jury at the Old Bailey.

Spencer Dillon, from Cheviot Road, was cleared of six charges at the Central Criminal Court August 1.

Dillon was accused of being part of the African Crew - a group of violent criminals who import and deal in heroin and crack, using guns to defend their trade.

Dillon was arrested after a two-year investigation by Operation Legacy, run by the South London Serious Crime Group, which was one of the fore-runners to Operation Trident.

But after standing trial with three other men, he was found not guilty on all counts.

The three other defendants, 24 -year-old Edwin Appiah from Barnet, 23-year-old Richmond Oduku from Beckton and 21-year-old Desmond Black, were found guilty and sentenced to prison terms ranging from twelve to 15 years.

Another man, 24-year-old Dean Hall from New Southgate, North London, had previously pleaded guilty to four counts and was sentenced to eight years in prison on Wednesday (August 8).

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