Olympic Silver Medallist Sent to Prison for 13 Years After Disgraceful Incident

A two-time Olympic silver medalist was handed a 13-year prison sentence after being found guilty of a heinous crime.

Canoeist Nathan Baggaley, who was also a three-time world champion, won two silver medals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

But 14 years after his achievement at the Olympics, his life turned for the worse when he was found guilty of plotting to smuggle £110 million worth of cocaine into Australia.

Nathan and his brother, Dru Baggaley, were charged with attempting to import 650kg of cocaine in 2018.

Dru and another man, Anthony Draper, were intercepted by the navy in July 2018

They were arrested following a police chase involving the navy and air force.

The speedboat used in the incident was acquired by Nathan, who was arrested 10 months later.

Footage shows Dru throwing packages of cocaine overboard from a foreign ship.

However, he said he thought he was collecting tobacco and claims Draper kidnapped him and made threats about his family.

But Draper said he was recruited by Dru to drive the boat and was under the impression they were collecting marijuana.

Nathan Baggaley in action at the 2004 Olympics. Image: Getty

Nathan was originally sentenced to 25 years and his brother 28 years.

However, they won appeals against their convictions and were ordered to face a retrial.

As a result, Nathan was imprisoned for 13 years and his brother 15 years.

Justice Declan Kelly said there was insufficient evidence to prove Dru knew he was importing cocaine after the court was told he thought he was collecting tobacco.

"Dru was reckless that there was a substantial quantity of a border-controlled drug but there is insufficient evidence that he knew the precise quantity," he said.

Nathan Baggaley won a silver medal in the men's canoe sprint at the 2004 Olympics. Image: Getty

Kelly said Nathan did not know there was to be an attempt to import drugs.

He said: "It can only be shown Nathan developed a requisite state of mind as of 30 July 2018.

"But from that point in time he was aware of the attempt to import a substantial quantity of a border-controlled drug but was reckless as to the identity of that drug.

"It cannot be shown that Nathan knew the drug was cocaine or the precise amount of the drug."