Showbiz

Sid Owen's brother jailed in cocaine case

Published Tuesday, Mar 9 2010, 08:26 GMT | By Daniel Kilkelly

generic image of sid owen as ricky butcher 20

The brother of EastEnders actor Sid Owen has been handed an eight-year jail sentence for being involved in a cocaine smuggling case.

Darren Owen, 41, was sentenced yesterday after admitting that he had arranged a place to stay for Stephen Farrant after the 39-year-old brought 15lbs of the drug into the UK from France.

A court heard that the Class A drug was hidden in Farrant's VW Golf when he took a ferry to Britain from Dieppe in December, The Mirror reports.

Farrant telephoned Owen after arriving in Newhaven, East Sussex and they were later arrested after taking the car to the home of one of Owen's friends.

In court, Owen said that he did not know what drugs were in the car. Meanwhile, claims that a police bug in the vehicle had recorded him talking about a drugs boss were rejected.

Judge Charles Kemp said: "That would have indicated a far higher degree of involvement."

Farrant was jailed for ten years for his part in the case.