Drug-smugglers ‘using crimes to promote their OnlyFans are a DISGRACE’…they should be ashamed of themselves, expert says

A CRIME expert has slammed two drug-smuggling women for ‘exploiting' their convictions to promote their OnlyFans.

Glamorous avoided jail last week after they were caught smuggling more than £160,000 worth of drugs.

The “unbreakable” friends said they made a mistake, calling themselves and the judge took pity on the 30-year-olds.

But former Scotland Yard cop Peter Bleksley, who worked undercover to catch those in illegal drug trade, has “zero sympathy” for the women.

He said: “A generation ago you would be looking at a significant jail term. Sadly in this day and age it is normal for a crime like this to get a suspended sentence.”

“I think the judiciary realise that thecannot be won.

“This has led to watering down sentences. These two young women…it is astonishing they were given suspended sentences.

The women were stopped at Birmingham Airport in 2023 with more than 35kg of cannabis in their suitcases, but said they were told the bags contained watches.

Bannister and Whalley – both from Blackburn, Lancashire, tried to tell Border Force officials they were coming back from a big shopping trip in New York.

When their luggage was checked, officers found 34 heat-sealed packages containing 16.5kg of cannabis in Bannister's case and a further 39 packages containing 19kg of cannabis in Whalley's bag.

They admitted they packed their own cases and knew it was into the country.

Whalley – a nurse who has since been suspended from practice – tried to say she thought the packages were watches.

But Peter told Flying Eze: “I hear these kinds of stories time and time again. It's the obvious defence. Even if they did think they were watches, they're still evading tax.

“To me, that's an aggravating factor, not mitigation. They were breaking the law. They are smugglers.

“It's astonishing – then they jump on OnlyFans to .”

Whalley, appearing on This Morning, blamed the crime on “society”.

“It’s all an image.Reflecting back on my life now, I see it totally differently.

“At the time, this image looked glamorous, my life now, I’m quieter. I want to take a different route in things.”

But the pair have started posting scantily-clad images to their social media and on – “for a bit of fun” and to “help ends meet”.

Peter added: “Suspended sentences are seen by people as getting off scot-free. Sometimes you see them skipping down the steps of the court and they're in the pub half an hour later celebrating. It's called a bender in slang.

“They think they have got away with it. They say by going on OnlyFans they're ‘just trying to‘ but there are other ways.

“Knuckle down and get a job like the rest of us. They've done this to themselves. I have zero sympathy.

“They're on OnlyFans because they want to be there. There are other ways to make money. They're exploiting their situation.”

Judge Richard Archer sentenced Bannister, who now lives in, to 20 months suspended for 18 months, with 30 days rehabilitation activities and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Whalley, from Blackburn, was handed a 16-month sentence suspended for 18 months, with 10 days rehabilitation and 80 hours of unpaid work.

The pair held hands and sobbed in the dock are they were sentenced.

Bannister said on social media afterwards: “Thank you for the people who have stood by us [during] truly the most mentally and emotionally challenging times of our life.

“Fifteen months of torture. Huge lessons learnt. A lot of tears along the way. But stood by each other's side no matter what.

“A true friendship which will never be broken which was proven today, holding hands not knowing the outcome.

“Finally some closure and moving forward with our life.

“Ready for the biggest fresh start and realising how important freedom really is.”

Both women pleaded guilty to fraudulent evasion of a prohibition.

Preston Crown Court heard they were vulnerable to exploitation due to their own personal and financial circumstances.

Since their arrest, neither has committed any other offences and Whalley has become a mother to a young baby, the court heard.

She also expects to be struck off the nursing register.