Lorry driver denies smuggling 40kg of cocaine into Harwich

Maciej Willim, 57, was due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court accused of bringing the class A drug into the country through Harwich.

When he did not appear in court on time, magistrates issued a court order authorising his arrest.

Alexander Goscimski took the defendant to Colchester Magistrates' Court instead of Chelmsford Magistrates' Court (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) That warrant was withdrawn after Willim appeared before magistrates with defence solicitor Alexander Goscimski, who told the court he had taken the defendant to Colchester instead of Chelmsford.

He said: “That was my mistake, your worships.

“He is a Polish lorry driver and he arrived in Stansted yesterday.

“He arrived from Poland late last night at Stansted. I advised him to because I wasn’t sure if he arrived at 8am this morning that he will be here on time.”

He then added he “felt a right fool” after realising he had gone to Colchester.

He said: “After picking the defendant up this morning at Stansted, I, for some reason, drove to the wrong court.

“I thought I typed in ‘Chelmsford’.

“I am not familiar with the roads from Stansted to Chelmsford.

“Obviously I have arrived there, I’ve seen ‘Colchester’ and felt a right fool.”

He continued: “The gentleman at the security desk says he has a direct number for this court.

“I said, ‘can you please call them and say I am on the way’- I got here as quickly as I could.”

Mr Goscimski asked magistrates to withdraw the warrant against Willim, which was agreed.

Maciej Willim is required to attend Chelmsford Crown Court later this month (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) The defendant, of Rybnick, Poland, denied one charge of being concerned in the importation of a class A drug, and one charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place between July 6 and July 11 of 2022.

Willim is due to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, November 29 for a further hearing.