Churchills great grandson pleads guilty in `Ecstasy drug racket

Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchills great grandson has pleaded guilty to taking part in a multi-million dollar ecstasy racket and is facing 20 years in jail.

London, Nov.21 : Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's great grandson has pleaded guilty to taking part in a multi-million dollar ecstasy racket and is facing 20 years in jail.

According to The Sun, police arrested Nicholas Jake Barton at his Sydney home in June last year during a series of raids in which officers seized 250,000 ecstasy tablets worth around 6.5 million pounds.

Thirty-three-year-old Barton, who is the son of James Barton and Arabella Spencer Churchill, pleaded guilty before Sydney's Local Court for taking part in the supply of a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

Barton had originally been charged with a more serious offence of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, which carries a possible life sentence and a 240,000-pound fine.

Wearing a dark suit and lavender tie, Barton gave no reaction as he entered his plea. He did not apply for bail, and was ordered to remain in custody until February 22 when he will be sentenced alongside his co-accused, Reese Woodgate, 42, who has also pleaded guilty.

Barton's father, James, who attended Tuesday's court session, said his son did not know the full extent of the ecstasy operation, but nevertheless "made an error which he deeply regrets".

ANI