16 years for fugitive drug dealer

5 July 2011

A British drug dealer apprehended in Spain after nine years on the run was yesterday (Monday) sentenced to a total of 16 years’ imprisonment for conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis.

Stephen Henry Pitman, 55, had been convicted on 1 July following a four-week trial at Reading Crown Court. He was extradited from Spain to the UK in November 2010 having been located by Spanish National Police officers, assisted by SOCA, a month earlier.

Pitman was found in the village of Mijas Costa, near Malaga, in possession of false identity documents. He became the 37th person to be arrested under Operation Captura, a joint-SOCA, Crimestoppers and Spanish law enforcement initiative targeting UK fugitives believed to be hiding in Spain.

Forty-four of 60 Operation Captura subjects have been apprehended to date.

SOCA’s Chris Farrimond said:

“This is a result that highlights the tenacity of SOCA and our partners in tracking down organised criminals and ensuring they face justice. Illegal drug traffickers can be certain that there will be no let up from law enforcement.”

Pitman is originally from Chislehurst, South East London. He was handed a 16-year prison term on the cocaine charge and a five-year sentence for conspiring to supply cannabis, which will run concurrently.