Wigan lottery winner, 80, helped build counterfeit drugs empire, court told

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Mark Brown North of England correspondentJanuary 29, 2026 at 09:54 AM

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John Eric Spiby, an 80-year-old lottery winner from near Wigan, was convicted of conspiracy to produce and supply class C drugs, along with firearms offenses, and sentenced to 16 years and six months in prison. Spiby, who won £2.4 million in 2010, used his property to house a large-scale counterfeit drug operation, manufacturing millions of diazepam tablets. The operation, estimated to be worth up to £288 million, involved adapting his premises and purchasing machinery. Spiby and three other men, including his son, were part of an organized crime gang producing drugs on an industrial scale. Despite his defense claiming he was not the principal organizer, the court found Spiby guilty, noting the scale of the drug production was the largest ever uncovered by police.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Greater Manchester Police 40% Adam Kent KC ×240% Emma Clarke ×240% Wigan 50% Lee Drury ×260% Bolton Crown Court ×360% John Colin Spiby ×260% Callum Dorian ×370% John Eric Spiby ×890%

Keywords

counterfeit drugs 100% drug empire 90% lottery winner 80% john eric spiby 70% class c drugs 70% drug production 60% firearms 50% diazepam 50% organized crime 40%