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Herbie Hide, Former Boxer, Jailed For Selling Cocaine

Former Boxing Champion Hide Jailed For Selling Cocaine
The Huffington Post UK/PA
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British heavyweight boxer Herbie Hide after beating J. Pritchard (not in picture) at the Alexandra Palace in London, 12th December 1992 (Photo by Bob Thomas/Getty Images)
PA

Former world champion boxer Herbie Hide has been jailed for selling cocaine after a court heard he fell for a "Fake Shiekh" sting operation set up by an investigative journalist.

Hide arranged to supply the class A drug to Sun on Sunday reporter Mazher Mahmood after a series of meetings at a hotel near Norwich in January and February.

During a sentencing hearing at Cambridge Crown Court, defence lawyers questioned the use of "entrapment" tactics to target the 42-year-old.

Hide, of Long Lane, Bawburgh, near Norwich, admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Judge Mark Lucraft QC sentenced the boxer, who has previous convictions including criminal damage, battery, threatening behaviour and carrying a knife, to 22 months in prison.

Herbie Hide
Boxing Herbie Hide wins(01 of21)
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Herbie Hide celebrates after stopping America's Tony Tucker in the second round of tonight's (Saturday) bout in Norwich, to win the vacant WBO heavyweight title. See PA story BOXING Hide. Photo by Sean Dempsey/PA (credit:PA)
Boxing Hide/Fischer celeb(02 of21)
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The WBO World Heavyweight Champion Herbie Hide, from Norwich, celebrates retaining his title, as referee Joe Cortez tends to German challenger Willi Fischer, in the second round of tonight's (Sat) bout at the Norwich Sports Village. edi/Photo by Sean Dempsey. (credit:PA)
Boxing Hide/Fischer belt(03 of21)
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The WBO World Heavyweight Champion Herbie Hide, from Norwich, celebrates retaining his title, after knocking out German challenger Willi Fischer, in the second round of bout at the Norwich Sports Village. * 28/2/2001: Former world heavyweight boxing champion Herbie Hide was ordered to be electronically tagged after being convicted of assaulting a civil servant in a nightclub. District Judge Patrick Heley (correct) ruled that Hide, 29, would wear the tag until June 28. Norwich Magistrates Court last month heard how Hide, of Bawburgh, Norfolk, attacked Ray Boateng during an incident in the Icon nightclub in Norwich in May. (credit:PA)
Herbie Hide(04 of21)
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28 Jun 1997: Herbie Hide of Great Britain celebrates the WBO Heavyweight Championship victory over Tony Tucker of the USA in Norwich, England. Hide stopped Tucker in the second round. \ Mandatory Credit: Mark Thompson /Allsport (credit:Getty Images)
Herbie Hide of Great Britain celebrates his victory over American Damon Reed(05 of21)
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18 Apr 1998: Herbie Hide of Great Britain celebrates his victory over American Damon Reed in a record 52 seconds during the WBO Heavyweight Championships held at the Manchester Arena, Manchester, England. \ Mandatory Credit: John Gichigi /Allsport (credit:Getty Images)
Herbie Hide court case(06 of21)
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File photo dated 29/1/2001 of former world heavyweight champion boxer Herbie Hide who has appeared in court accused of conspiring to supply cocaine after being charged following a newspaper investigation. (credit:PA)
Stabbing at boxer's home(07 of21)
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File photo dated 19/04/98 of former boxer Herbie Hide, a man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a fatal stabbing during a party at the home of the former world champion. (credit:PA)
Boxing - Cruiserweight - Herbie Hide v Aleksejs Kosobokovs - Norfolk Showground(08 of21)
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Herbie Hide fights Aleksejs Kosobokovs (credit:PA)
Boxing - Cruiserweight - Herbie Hide v Aleksejs Kosobokovs - Norfolk Showground(09 of21)
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Herbie Hide fights Aleksejs Kosobokovs (credit:PA)
Boxing - Cruiserweight - Herbie Hide v Aleksejs Kosobokovs - Norfolk Showground(10 of21)
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Herbie Hide fights Aleksejs Kosobokovs (credit:PA)
Boxing - Cruiserweight - Herbie Hide v Aleksejs Kosobokovs - Norfolk Showground(11 of21)
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Herbie Hide fights Aleksejs Kosobokovs (credit:PA)
Boxing - Cruiserweight - Herbie Hide v Aleksejs Kosobokovs - Norfolk Showground(12 of21)
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Herbie Hide defeats Aleksejs Kosobokovs (credit:PA)
Boxing - Cruiserweight - Herbie Hide v Aleksejs Kosobokovs - Norfolk Showground(13 of21)
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Herbie Hide fights Aleksejs Kosobokovs (credit:PA)
Boxing - Cruiserweight - Herbie Hide v Aleksejs Kosobokovs - Norfolk Showground(14 of21)
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Herbie Hide fights Aleksejs Kosobokovs (credit:PA)
Boxing - Cruiserweight - Herbie Hide v Aleksejs Kosobokovs - Norfolk Showground(15 of21)
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Herbie Hide prepares to fight Aleksejs Kosobokovs (credit:PA)
Boxing - Cruiserweight - Herbie Hide v Aleksejs Kosobokovs - Norfolk Showground(16 of21)
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Herbie Hide fights Aleksejs Kosobokovs (credit:PA)
Boxing - WBO Heavyweight Title - Herbie Hide and Michael Bentt Press conference(17 of21)
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BOXERS HERBIE HIDE [L] AND WBOHEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, MICHAEL BENTTSHORTLY BEFORE THEY ENDED UP WRESTLINGIN A PUDDLE IN A SENSATIONAL END TOTHEIR PRE-MATCH NEWS CONFERENCE. (credit:PA)
Filer Herbie Hide/charged(18 of21)
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Ex-boxer champion Herbie Hide who has been charged with kerb-crawling, it emerged today (Friday). The former WBO world heavyweight champion was arrested in Tottenham, north London, late on Wednesday night, Scotland Yard said. Hide, 25, of Rugge Drive, Catton, Norwich, Norfolk, was bailed to appear at Highgate magistrates on June 25. See PA Story POLICE Hide. Photo by Rebecca Naden/PA. (credit:PA)
SPORT Hide(19 of21)
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File dated 19.03.94 of World heavyweight boxing champion Herbie Hide and his ten year old brother Alan, who lost his four year battle with leukemia at Norfolk and Norwich hospital on Saturday. Photo by Sean Dempsey PA/See Pa Story SPORT Hide. (credit:PA)
Boxing/Hide v. Klitschko action(20 of21)
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Herbie Hide (right) tries to get inside the Ukrainian giant Vitali Klitschko during their WBO heavyweight title bout at the London Arena. Herbie Hide, the defending champion,was knocked out by Vitali Klitschko after 74 seconds in the second round of their bout. (credit:PA)
WBO BOXING(21 of21)
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HERBIE HIDE, WBO BRITISH CHAMPION WITH THE BELT (credit:PA)

He said he had reduced the sentence, partly because of the "sting element".

Martin Budworth, mitigating for Hide, said Mr Mahmood and his assistant had pursued his client "relentlessly" despite his attempts to remove himself from the encounter.

A friend of Hide described him in a statement read to court as a "pubescent boy in a grown man's body".

"I hesitate to say this, but it is a case of Jekyll and Hyde - far from his public persona, he is a shy man and a vulnerable man and was ripe for the picking by experienced and professional men like Mr Mahmood," Mr Budworth said.

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Hide celebrates beating J. Pritchard in 1992 at the Alexandra Palace in London

"I'm not here to criticise the paper for its conduct but this is not a case where the Sun has in any way unearthed a massive conspiracy.

"This was not a case of crime fighting or exposing a criminal, this was a case of selling newspapers.

"If anybody instigated this offence, it was Mr Mahmood and his assistant."

Hide's adoptive father, Alan Hide, told the court his son had learning difficulties.

He said: "Once he becomes your friend, he's your friend for life."

Prosecutor Chris Youell described how Mr Mahmood, dubbed the Fake Sheikh because of his technique of acting as a wealthy Arab, originally targeted Hide as part of an investigation into fight fixing.

"Mr Mahmood was effectively a customer being sold drugs for money," he said.

"It was an isolated incident which would not have happened had Mr Mahmood not enticed Mr Hide into doing something illegal."

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