THE boss of a Farnworth based multi million pound legal highs conspiracy tried to “evade responsibility” for her part in the operation, a court heard.

Judge Peter Davies rejected submissions made by Paula White during a hearing in advance of the sentencing of her and her co-conspirators on Friday.

White and her legal team claimed that she was not as involved in the business citing periods of ill health and her appearance at a trial in Northampton which took up months of her time in 2011.

She maintained that she first realised the websites were selling controlled drugs in March 2012, but Judge Davies said she must have known by January 2011, because of an email from her supplier which had been recovered from that time.

Bolton Crown Court has been told that White set up the business in 2009 before some legal highs including mephedrone were banned in April 2010.

Judge Davies said: “By then I am sure that she knew the truth yet she authorised and continued the sale of class B drugs.

“I am in no doubt that she knew what was being sold was unlawful.”

White has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B drugs.

The judge said White had given “unconvincing evidence", such as saying that the secrecy behind the gang’s production and packaging base, in Drake Mill, was because other legal high sellers had been attacked in the past.

Judge Davies said that the industrial unit was known as “Area 51” — after the supposedly secretive US Air Force base in Nevada.

He added: “The real reason for the deception was that now the business was full on.

“This was not a business that could afford to open its doors to any outsider.”

The gang sold banned legal highs to customers around the world, making in excess of £3.5 million in profits.

Rudie Chiu, aged 26, of Hornbeam Way, Manchester; Netta Hymanson, aged 64, of Circular Road, Prestwich; Sheena Jessop, aged 47, of Grants Lane, Ramsbottom; Christian White, aged 39, of Nelson Street, Salford; and Michaela Doyle aged 44, of Croft Street, Salford, were previously found guilty of conspiring to supply class B drugs.

White, aged 46, of Stafford Road, Eccles, and her co-defendants will be sentenced on Friday.