Male model who absconded to Bali is jailed for dealing steroids

Fugitive male model, 33, who evaded justice for two years is finally jailed for trafficking steroids from China after mocking police with pictures of his playboy lifestyle from 6,000 miles away in Bali

  • Terrence Murrell, 33, absconded ahead of his trial for supplying steroids 
  • He was sentenced for 37 months in his absence at  Caernarfon Crown Court
  • Detectives tracked him down and arrested him after he arrived in Cambodia 
  • He was jailed for an extra three months in prison having earlier absconded  

Terrence Murrell, 33, from London, was handed an extra three months in prison on top of his existing three-year jail term for dealing illegal steroids

A male model on the run from justice for two years has finally been jailed after mocking police with pictures of his playboy lifestyle 6,000 miles away.

Fugitive Terrence Murrell, 33, was given an extra four months on top of his three-year jail term for fleeing Britain to the paradise island Bali.

He went on the run before he was due to be sentenced for dealing illegal steroids. But instead of keeping a low-profile in Indonesia, Murrell taunted police with constant updates on social media. 

Murrell mocked police updating his Facebook and Instagram pages with smirking pictures in the sunshine.

He captioned one picture with friends: ‘The baddest men in Bali.’

He also posed for pictures in an infinity pool, working out in a gym and using his laptop in a four-poster bed.

Many of the snaps were captioned: ‘Boss life.’

He was eventually returned to the UK after he left Bali and arrived in Cambodia, where British detectives  

But justice has had the last laugh – after he was traced after fleeing Bali to Cambodia.

British police won permission to travel to Cambodia to bring him back to the UK to start his time behind bars.

A court heard Murrell was a leading member of a £2million steroid gang who shipped drugs from China to the UK to sell.

He told police he bought the drugs for himself as he ‘wanted to look his best as a male model’.

But prosecutor Sarah Badrawy said bank accounts showed Murrell had pocketed more than £220,000.

Drugs worth almost £2m had been seized and the gang were thought to have made £1.2m profit in two years.

He later admitted supplying class C drugs in North Wales through websites but failed to turn up for a sentencing hearing at Caernarfon Crown Court.

Murrell, 30, pictured, mocked police by updating his social media pages showing his luxury travels

Murrell, 30, pictured, mocked police by updating his social media pages showing his luxury travels 

Murrell, pictured, was jailed for 37 months in his absence for importing anabolic steroids from Hong Kong and China and selling them across the UK

Murrell, pictured, was jailed for 37 months in his absence for importing anabolic steroids from Hong Kong and China and selling them across the UK

John Lyons, defending, said: ‘He has been prevaricating about his pleas for some time. He was always going to admit the offences but kept putting off the evil day.’ 

Murrell, from London, was jailed for 37 months in his absence.

Judge Huw Rees said: ‘He is living in the lap of luxury.’

Judge Rees said Murrell was part of ‘a very extensive criminal operation’ which imported the drugs from Hong Kong and China.

He added: ‘It is well known that anabolic steroids have been widely abused in sport, especially where an increase in muscle mass is required.

‘The administration of steroids often produces unwanted side effects, mood swings, over confidence, aggression, loss of libido and liver toxicity.’

He became known as ‘Mr Potato Chest’ after an online translation mangled the Welsh words of a police appeal to describe him as having ‘potatoes on his chest’ – because the Welsh word for potatoes is ‘tatws.’

Murrell appeared back in Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday via videolink where he was sentenced to an extra four months for absconding

Murrell appeared back in Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday via videolink where he was sentenced to an extra four months for absconding

Murrell appeared back in Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday via videolink where he was sentenced to an extra four months for absconding.

After his arrest a North Wales Police spokesman said: ‘People think they can escape justice by leaving the country, but the arrest of Murrell demonstrates that we will we pursue offenders and take the necessary steps to track them down.’ 

After his arrest a North Wales Police spokesman said: 'People think they can escape justice by leaving the country, but the arrest of Murrell demonstrates that we will we pursue offenders and take the necessary steps to track them down'

After his arrest a North Wales Police spokesman said: ‘People think they can escape justice by leaving the country, but the arrest of Murrell demonstrates that we will we pursue offenders and take the necessary steps to track them down’