After more than a decade of investigation, international extradition proceedings, and significant public resources spent, a convicted drug dealer has walked free from court without serving a single day in prison.
Richard Ronald Hawksworth, 41, of Longbridge Deverill in Wiltshire, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on 23 April 2025 for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs — offences dating back over 13 years. Despite the gravity of the case, the court handed down a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He must also complete 300 hours of unpaid community work and forfeit over £4,000 in seized cash.
The long-running investigation began in late 2011, when Hawksworth was first linked to a drug supply operation involving amphetamine in Dorset. He was stopped by police in November that year after returning from Liverpool with what turned out to be a substantial quantity of white powder. In January 2012, officers witnessed further suspected drug activity involving Hawksworth in Corfe Mullen, leading to the discovery of nearly four kilograms of amphetamine hidden in woodland — with an estimated street value of up to £40,000.
Following his arrest and release on bail, Hawksworth fled the UK in April 2012, boarding a flight to South Africa. His departure launched a years-long effort by Dorset Police and the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) to secure his return. An extradition warrant was issued in 2016, but legal wrangling in South Africa delayed his handover until 2024.
By then, two of Hawksworth’s co-conspirators had already been convicted and sentenced back in 2013. Hawksworth remained beyond reach — until last year, when South African authorities finally executed the extradition request.
Despite the scale of the operation, the resources expended, and the effort to bring Hawksworth back to the UK, the final sentence did not involve any custodial time. The decision has provoked frustration among observers and members of the public alike, who question whether the outcome reflects the seriousness of the crime or the investment made to prosecute it.
Detective Inspector Mark Jenkins of the MCIT praised his team’s perseverance:
“Thanks to the relentless efforts of my detectives, Richard Hawksworth’s attempts to evade justice proved in vain. While the extradition process is a complex and lengthy one, our investigators were committed to ensuring he faced the consequences of his actions.”
But for some, that sentiment rings hollow. After 13 years, a failed attempt to disappear abroad, and a major cross-border operation to secure his return, Hawksworth is now back in the UK — but free.
In an age of tightening public services and stretched police budgets, questions remain: was justice served, and was it worth the cost?
