Wigan Lottery Winner, 80, Jailed for Role in £288m Counterfeit Drug Empire
An 80-year-old man who previously won £2.4 million on the national lottery has been sentenced to prison for his central role in building a multimillion-pound counterfeit drug manufacturing operation. John Eric Spiby, from near Wigan, was described by the court as a key figure in an organised crime gang that produced tablets on what police called an "industrial scale."
The Scale of the Criminal Enterprise
Manchester Crown Court heard that the drug empire, which prosecutors estimated could have been worth up to £288 million, was centred around Spiby's "quiet rural" home. The operation involved flooding the region with millions of counterfeit tablets disguised as diazepam, a medication commonly known as Valium that is used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Judge Nicholas Clarke KC, during sentencing, noted that this case represented "the largest production of drugs of this nature that has ever been uncovered by the police." He repeatedly emphasised the sheer magnitude of the criminal enterprise throughout the proceedings.
Spiby's Involvement and Conviction
The court was told that Spiby, despite his substantial lottery win in 2010, "provided the premises and helped adapt the premises and purchase machinery" worth thousands of pounds specifically for drug manufacturing purposes. Prosecutors detailed how he had boasted in group chats with references to billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, suggesting they should "watch their backs."
After a trial at Bolton Crown Court, Spiby was convicted by a jury of multiple serious offences:
- Conspiracy to produce class C drugs
- Conspiracy to supply class C drugs
- Two counts of possession of firearms
- Possession of ammunition
- Perverting the course of justice
Despite denying any knowledge of the conspiracy, the evidence presented led to his conviction on all charges.
Sentencing and Judge's Remarks
Judge Clarke sentenced Spiby to 16 years and six months in prison, noting that "despite your lottery win you continued to live a life of crime beyond what would normally have been your retirement years." He described Spiby as being "senior in both name and role" within the criminal organisation.
The judge also highlighted the irony of the operation's location, pointing out that much of the production occurred in what appeared to be an "ostensibly rural, quiet area" near Wigan.
Other Defendants and Their Sentences
Three other men were also convicted and sentenced for their roles in the organised crime gang:
- John Colin Spiby, 37 (Spiby's son) - 9 years imprisonment
- Lee Drury, 45 - 9 years and 9 months imprisonment
- Callum Dorian, 35 - 12 years imprisonment (sentenced in 2024)
During the trial, defence counsel Adam Kent KC argued that Dorian rather than Spiby was the "principle of this operation," describing him as the organiser, orchestra, and director. He referenced Dorian's own words describing Spiby as "the guy who's gaff we use is a millionaire."
Kent also pointed to the "antiquity" of the revolvers found at Spiby's home, noting they dated back to the First World War period.
Prosecutor Emma Clarke detailed how the plotters were involved in producing counterfeit pills with a potential street value reaching hundreds of millions of pounds. The case has been described by senior legal figures as the biggest of its kind ever uncovered in the region.
