A COLOURFUL North-East businessman and champion body-builder was jailed last night for his involvement in international drug-running.

Gym owner Marty Yates-Brown, a former senior Mr Britain, was handed a three-year prison term after it was revealed he served as a middle man involved in importing cannabis to the North of England from Holland.

The 55-year-old, who owned the Classic World of Fitness chain, was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs between 1998 and 1999.

The court heard that Yates-Brown was a broken man after his involvement with drugs broke up his marriage, left him a virtual bankrupt and led to the collapse of his business.

He agreed to turn Queen's evidence against alleged gang members and they were eventually arrested and charged. But the case against five men was thrown out in February after the judge said Yates-Brown had lied.

Speaking exclusively to The Northern Echo yesterday, Yates-Brown said: "I very much regret what has happened. I have let a lot of people down. I have never been in trouble before.

"I have lost everything but I am not bitter. I only have myself to blame. I will cope with prison and turn myself around. I have to pay the price."

The court heard yesterday that Yates-Brown, of Middleton St George, County Durham, became involved in drugs-trafficking after he was approached and asked to find contacts in the North-East who would buy drugs imported from Holland.

It was planned to import 200kg of cannabis every fortnight using one of the gang's fish and chicken importing business as a cover and then sell the drugs on.

In February, five of the alleged gang, Raymond Bell, 57, of Eskdale Terrace, North Tyneside; Colin Dunn, 62, of Hollywood Avenue, Newcastle; John Churchill, 29, of Bellwood Street, Glasgow; Charles Hardie, 44, of Armidale, Scotland; and Clive Jefferson, 34, of Woodside Avenue, Cockermouth, Cumbria, were found not guilty of conspiracy to supply drugs.

Yesterday, John Tansey, 35, of Scira Court, Darlington, was given a 15-month jail term, suspended for two years, and Neil Coates, 32, of Victoria Embankment, Darlington, was given a community punishment order for their involvement.