Former British and Commonwealth super-middleweight boxing champion Lennox Clarke has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison for supplying cocaine to a Cheltenham drug dealer.
The 33-year-old from Stourbridge, West Midlands, fled to Ireland, Thailand, and Mexico in an attempt to avoid arrest but was eventually caught by Gloucestershire Police.
Police Investigation & Clarke’s Attempt to Escape
Authorities began investigating drug activity in Cheltenham in autumn 2023, leading them to Ben Goff, a local dealer. Detectives found that Goff met Clarke at least 12 times, frequently traveling between Cheltenham and the West Midlands for clandestine meetings.
Police intervened during one of these meetings, arresting Goff, who was later convicted and sentenced. Clarke, realizing he was under investigation, went on the run, first hiding in local hotels before fleeing the country.
“Just after Goff got arrested, Clarke decided to go on the run,” said Detective Inspector Matt Phillips.
“He initially stayed in hotels, then left through Wales to Ireland, before spending time in Thailand, Mexico, and other locations before returning to the UK.”
Previous Convictions & Sentencing
Clarke had a prior conviction for supplying Class B drugs in 2012, and the judge at Gloucester Crown Court stated that he had “not learned his lesson.”
He was sentenced to six years and four months in prison, with 317 days deducted for time spent on curfew.
A Fall from Boxing Glory
Between 2013 and 2022, Clarke held multiple boxing titles, including:
British Masters Bronze Super-Middleweight Champion
British and Commonwealth Super-Middleweight Champion
IBO Continental Super-Middleweight Champion
Detective Inspector Matt Phillips expressed hope that Clarke’s conviction would “give confidence to the community” in reporting drug-related crimes, assuring residents that police “take these concerns seriously.”
