So to clarify the relevant points:
- WHF 7th Aug '85 according to Dr Craig's testimony he found JB clutching a bunch of opium poppies which he picked from a field upon being told the news about his family. JB told Dr Craig WHF has a special licence to produce them for the pharma ind.
- Dr Craig asked Chief Sup Harris if he was aware WHF had a special licence. He said he did not. The pair then went to take a look at the poppies. Confirmed in Dr Craig and Chief Sup Harris' testimony.
- There's no evidence UK based pharma companies were procuring opium from poppies grown by UK farmers in 1985. As a result I wrote to JB for clarification and he responded as follows:
"Now this is an odd thing because you believe that the first licence to grown opium poppies was not granted until the naughties. You are of course correct growing a few opium poppies is not illegal in and of itself, its illegal to grow a large quantity for commercial use - it must be otherwise loads of them would be grown and harvested, with the only illegal bit being when the opium is extracted - which could be done in a secret lab.
I'm guessing that we grew them under a sub contract with Kings Seeds of Coggeshall - they organised the trial, it was home office approved as a man from the ministry of agriculture visited to see that all was above board - we had to grow them at least 1/2 a mile from a main road and 1/2 a mile from a footpath.
The bit about me and Dr Craig going by the field growing the poppies is nonsense, we were nowhere near the area where the poppies were being grown.
Noone knew we grew poppies, no criminals could have known, I cannot recall how I came to tell Dr Craig about them, I think he simply asked me what crops we grew on the farm, thing was dad and I used to grow all sorts of new things, like borrage, evening primrose, lupins and fenugreek only on a small scale - though we went a bit mad with the borage cos we made so much money with that crop as we found out how to harvest it without it dropping its seeds. So all that nonsense about me showing Dr Craig an opium poppy is nonsense. It was a passing comment, and Essex police would have been aware - though I'm guessing the licence was with the ministry of AG and Kings Seeds.
Anyway hope that helps".- The above is at odds with the legislation and letters from the Home Office to members of the public who have sought to clarify the cultivation of opium poppies:
http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?topic=7323.msg435891#msg435891
