Grandad wanted in France over 100kg shipment of cocaine imported from Colombia

A professional footballer's dad is wanted in France over the importation of a 100kg shipment of cocaine from Colombia. Ronald Whelan came to the attention of the National Crime Agency over the haul of drugs when he was arrested after pulling a knife on a fellow train passenger amid a row over the other man leaving his bag on a seat.

The grandad says the incident is the "worst mistake he has ever made". His victim was left with blood pouring from his hands after attempting to grab the blade.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Monday, that Muhammed Uddin boarded a Southport-bound service at Liverpool South Parkway shortly after 1pm on August 2 this year intending to travel to Blundellsands and Crosby Station. He was sitting with his bag placed next to him on a spare seat when Whelan entered the train, at which point "words were exchanged about the bag on the seat".

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CCTV footage then showed him seating himself beside the complainant, who subsequently moved to another part of the carriage after apparently calling the 59-year-old a "d***head". The defendant, of no fixed address, then exited at Blundellsands and Crosby ahead of Mr Uddin.

Philip Clemo, prosecuting, described how Whelan was thereafter seen passing through a gate directly in front of his victim, at which stage he pulled a knife from his pocket and turned around to make a "lunging motion" towards him. The complainant reacted by grabbing hold of the six-inch blade, leaving him with a cut to his hand.

In a statement which was read out to the court on his behalf, Mr Uddin detailed how he had suffered from sleeping difficulties and nightmares since the attack. He also outlined how he had been forced to give up his job due to his newfound fear of taking public transport, adding: "I keep replaying the attack over and over in my mind.

"I find myself thinking about it constantly. I fear that the flashbacks will never go away and it is something I will have to put up with."

Whelan was arrested five days after the assault as he entered a gym. This led to him being alerted to the NCA, being a "wanted man in France in relation to the importation of over 100kg of high purity cocaine from Colombia".

Upon being released from custody, having been held on remand since the assault, he is expected to be detained again and brought before Westminster Magistrates' Court in order to face extradition proceedings. Whelan maintains that he "felt threatened" by the casualty.

Louise Santamera, defending, told the court that her client was a married father-of-two with one grandchild, with one of his sons being a professional footballer, and said: "He unequivocally accepts that he should not have done what he did. He found it very difficult to understand why he had followed him off the train.

"The complainant appears at his shoulder on the platform and mutters to him. He maintains that he did what he did to frighten to complainant away from him. He did not want to cause him any injury."

Ms Santamera added of Mr Uddin's behaviour on the train: "He was observed by others making offensive remarks. The defendant does not react to this. I observe the complainant looking across at the defendant on a number of occasions.

"The defendant has said to me that it is the worst mistake he has made. He accepts that he misjudged the situation and makes no excuse for his behaviour that day."

Whelan admitted wounding without intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Wearing a light grey fleece and sporting grey hair in the dock, he was handed a 15-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months plus 150 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 25 days.

Sentencing, Recorder Ben Douglas-Jones KC said: "It is most fortunate for you that he was not injured further. There is no suggestion at all that he was threatening you. However, I accept that you felt threatened by his presence and the fact that he was close to you.

"That is why you drew the knife and acted in the way that is seen on CCTV. That is no excuse for what you did, but it is an explanation. I bear in mind your age and the fact that you have been out of trouble with the police for 40 years or so. It is extremely sad to see you back before the court all these years later."