Bristol Olympic Judo 'enforcer' to appeal against confiscation order

A FORMER Olympic judo finalist jailed for being the "enforcer" for a £50m drugs gang has won the first stage of his battle against a £1m confiscation order.

James Waithe, 50, of Highridge Green, Bishopsworth, Bristol, was the "muscle and enforcer" for the gang, and helped to torture victims, London's Criminal Appeal Court heard.

Waithe was given an indefinite jail term in December 2009 after being convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine and possessing a firearm with the intent to endanger life. In September last year at Bristol Crown Court Waithe was hit with a £1m confiscation order.

On Friday Lady Justice Rafferty, Mr Justice McCombe and Judge Michael Pert QC granted him permission to appeal against that financial order.

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Waithe, who represented Barbados in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, has already failed in an appeal against the length of his sentence.