Physics technician at top university used his lab to prepare cocaine worth hundreds of thousands of pounds

Timothy Newbury, 53, sneaked into Bristol University's physics department

He and friend Nicholas Avery, also 53, packed the drugs with hydraulic press

Men jailed after admitting possessing the Class A drug with intent to supply



A technician at a leading university used his laboratory equipment to prepare £10,000 worth of high-grade cocaine.

Timothy Newbury operated a hydraulic press in the physics department at Bristol University to create blocks of the Class A drug.

CCTV showed him sneaking into the laboratory with accomplice Nicholas Avery, a former soldier who had begun preparing the cocaine in a workshop at his home. Cocaine is first cut with other substances before being pressed into a block for sale.

Timothy Newbury, 53, left, and his friend Nicholas Avery, 53, right, were caught on CCTV entering the laboratory



The men were caught together when police stopped 53-year-old Newbury’s car and found £10,000 of pressed cocaine inside. He was suspended by the university after his arrest and has now been sacked.

Newbury was jailed for 18 months at Bristol Crown Court after admitting possession with intent to supply. The court heard he was due to receive a small amount of money for his part in the crime, but had not been paid anything.

The case has echoes of the popular US drama Breaking Bad, in which chemistry teacher Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, uses his scientific know-how to produce crystal meth, a powerful form of speed.

Sentencing Newbury, of Bristol, on Friday, Judge Julian Lambert told him: ‘You had led a positively good and productive life until now and you have let your friends and family down.’

When Avery’s home in Bristol was searched, officers discovered 1.6lbs of high-purity cocaine worth almost £200,000, and almost £4,000 in cash.

Avery, 53, who served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands, admitted two counts of possessing cocaine with intent to supply and was jailed for five years. The judge told him: ‘You have given great service to your country and I am greatly disappointed in you.’

He told both men: ‘You made a terrible choice when you decided to involve yourselves in the world of controlled drugs.’ A proceeds-of-crime hearing will be held in September.

Avery worked as a lab technician at the physics department at the prestigious University of Bristol

'Kenneth Ball, prosecuting, said: 'Mr Newbury was a lab technician employed by the University of Bristol in the Physics department.

' CCTV showed Mr Newbury and Mr Avery going to that lab. There the hydraulic press was used to press the cocaine taken there by Mr Avery who had cut it.

'In effect the Crown says there was a cutting workshop at Mr Avery’s home and a pressing workshop at the university which was operated by Mr Newbury.'

Tim Rose, defending Newbury, said he had an impeccable background but once he had agreed to help Avery felt he could not then say no.



Cocaine is cut with other substances, pressed into blocks and then sold in smaller 1g wraps, pictured

Tabitha Macfarlane, for Avery, said he had been a soldier of some stature who wanted to work as a close-protection security officer but needed money for the relevant licences.

She said he recognised the stress he had caused his family - especially his 88-year-old father who was a veteran of Monte Cassino - and whom he feared he would not see again.



A proceeds-of-crime hearing will be held in September.



A University of Bristol spokesman said: 'We suspended the individual concerned as soon as we were made aware of the incident.