A GREEDY businesswoman who made millions of pounds from masterminding the distribution of illegal drugs from a Farnworth factory has been jailed for nine years.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Paula White, a former director of Chester City Football Club and Widnes Rugby League Club, led a life of luxury with proceeds from the sale of “legal high” products, involving others including her brother, former partner and sister-in-law in a sophisticated sales operation which promised customers next-day delivery of a range of drugs.

At the time the business was set up in 2009, the psychoactive party drugs sold by White were legal, but a change in the law the following year meant they became banned.

Despite this White, who had already made a fortune through variety of ventures including money lending and handbag design, expanded her drugs business, going to great lengths to import chemicals from the Far East to unsuspecting friends’ addresses before they were collected and processed at Drake Mill in Farnworth.

“Your greed spurred you on,” Judge Peter Davies told White. "You enjoyed a wealthy lifestyle — luxury house, lavish holidays and expensive cars, a lifestyle not enjoyed by others."

The drugs, with names including Jolly Drops and Heaven, were advertised via various websites, primarily one called Wide Mouth Frogs, which had a large customer base, including clients as far afield as Australia.

In July 2012 one customer, Grant Woolridge, from Newbury, died after taking the drugs at a music festival.

White, of Stafford Road, Eccles, set up offshore accounts to handle proceeds from her business, including bank accounts in Tanzania and Cyprus.

The criminal operation first came to police attention via police in Jersey, where drugs parcels were being sent to some customers.

In order to avoid suspicion from customs officials the drugs were sent wrapped with tee-shirts or disguised as books.

Police staked out the Farnworth factory and made test purchases of the products over the internet before finally raiding the premises, which were so secret they were known as ‘Area 51’ after the infamous US air base, in May 2013.

“At Drake Mill police discovered what was undoubtedly a very sophisticated production system,” said Francis McEntee, prosecuting White, aged 46, of Stafford Road, Eccles, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. Six of her employees denied the offence but were found guilty after trial.

White’s former civil partner, 64-year-old Netta Hymanson, of Circular Road, Prestwich, who ran the factory on her behalf and was nicknamed the “headmistress” by staff due to her strict supervision, was jailed for four years.

The same sentence was handed to White’s brother, Christian White, aged 39, of Nelson Street, Salford, who manufactured the drugs on a industrial scale for 14 months from March 2012 and would deliver parcels ready for dispatch to post offices throughout the region.

Suspended prison sentences were given to four other employees.

Rudie Chiu, aged 26, of Hornbeam Way, Manchester, ran White’s websites from 2011, helping her promote the sale of the drugs and even used his grandmother’s home as a delivery address for her imported chemicals.

He was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, must do 300 hours unpaid work and will be subject to an 8pm to 6am curfew for four months.

The same sentence was also handed to Sheena Jessop, aged 47, of Grants Lane Ramsbottom, who described herself as the “Willy Wonka of the drugs world” and was employed in an administrative role in the business by White, her former partner.

Aniello Della-Croce, aged 30, of Bowker Vale Gardens,who worked at White’s offices in Cheetham Hill, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, must do 250 hours unpaid work and will be subject to a midnight to 6am curfew for four months.

White’s sister-in-law, 44-year-old Michaela Doyle was described by the judge as having a “unattractive and arrogant manner” who had been content for her own son to work at the drugs factory.

Doyle, of Croft Street, Salford, was given a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, will do 200 hours unpaid work and will be subject to a three month 8pm to 6am curfew.

A proceeds of crime hearing will be held next year to confiscate the gang’s assets.