Originally posted by Keelman
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keelman
SENIOR MEMBER
Joined: 01 Nov 2003
Posts: 41
Location: washington england
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 3:30 pm Post subject: ELEVEN MONTHS ON
ELEVEN MONTHS ON
It is now 11 months since John Vasey was arrested in France for picking up 2 shrink wrapped pallets of Ceramics near Barcelona but unknown to John contained an illegal substance (Cannabis Resin).
For those who are not familiar with his case you can check all his details out on
while there will you please take time to sign the petition.
Over the months supporters have organized demonstrations in various parts of the UK, from the M8 to Dover, a convoy from Washington, John’s home town, to a meeting with the French Charge de Affaires at the French Embassy, London, the petition has been handed in at Downing Street, have had pitches at Peterborough, Edinburgh and Barnard Castle Truck Shows and started the Blue Ribbon Campaign have raised over £4000 with donations, raffles and various (sometimes silly LOL) auctions and in general have made the public and transport industry more aware of what is happening to innocent British drivers abroad, and more is in the pipeline, details later.
We are more than grateful for all this help.
But remember THIS CAN HAPPEN TO YOU, even in this country. Do you really know what you are carrying?
Unlike the UK, The Judicial system in France is that you are guilty until proven innocent, and the charges are importation and transportation so you are guilty whether knowingly or unknowingly.
Every 4 months John is up before a Judge for a hearing and is given another 4 months remand, and an appeal is made, the legal costs are high as are the prison costs. Of the £200 we send John each month the prison take first bite “ Admin Charge” then a % into an account to give John when he is released, the remainder is put into an account for John to use to buy clothes (we can only take him shirts sweaters and track suit type trousers and 4 paper back books when we visit, nothing else and nothing by post) extra food (the food is inedible, donkey & horsemeat cooked French style), trainers, soap powder, toilet paper, letter writing material, (he is not allowed to use the back of our letters to write on) use of gym and any other activity John takes part in must be paid for.
In short we have to pay for his keep.
Then there is the Lawyer to pay and as you can imagine he is not cheap and not on a No win no fee contract.
Can we request those who have generously asked what they can do to help either on these pages or when talking to John’s family to make a small monthly donation by Direct Debit to John’s Fighting Fund, even a small amount will go a long way.
The details are: Lloyds Bank, Fawcett Street, Sunderland, Sort Code 30-98-34, A/c 02894138, A/c Name John Vasey Fighting Fund.
Or send a cheque to John Vasey c/o 2 Pikestone Close, Washington, Tyne & Wear, NE38 0QE.
Thank you for your time to read this
Mary & Ken
a true friend is one who walks in when all the world walks out