A man who was suspected in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence has pleaded guilty to heading up a £4m drugs plot.

Jamie Acourt, 42, from Eltham, south-east London, pleaded guilty at Kingston crown court on Thursday over the two-year conspiracy to supply cannabis resin.

His 43-year-old brother Neil Acourt has already been jailed for more than six years over the hashish scheme, but Jamie had fled to Spain where was living under the alias “Simon Alfonzo” until his arrest in May.

Both were previously arrested after the fatal stabbing of the black 18-year-old in Eltham in 1993, but have always denied involvement.

Jamie Acourt previously denied the drugs charge against him, but changed his plea following the end of the prosecution’s case opening.

Currently of no fixed address, he is due to be sentenced on Friday.