In a shocking turn of events, two women, who also happen to be OnlyFans models, have been caught attempting to smuggle cannabis worth £160,000 into the UK. Sophie Bannister, 30, and Levi-April Whalley, 31, were arrested after returning from a shopping trip in New York.
However, their arrest was only the tip of the iceberg.
Before their capture, both women were known for posting provocative content on OnlyFans, a platform with millions of users worldwide.
How They Got Involved in the Scheme
The duo’s journey into the criminal world began when they were approached by a woman they met in Marbella.
This woman offered them £2,000 each to bring what they were told were watches and jewellery from New York to the UK.
Bannister and Whalley, eager for a free holiday and the promise of easy money, agreed to take the risk. Whalley, in particular, admitted that she hadn’t thought through the potential consequences.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted, to go to New York, since I was a little girl,” Whalley shared. “I thought, ‘Oh, let’s do it,’ without thinking about the actual consequences.”
The Unexpected Reality
While enjoying their holiday, the reality of the situation didn’t hit them until the final day when they were instructed to bring back the cases. It was at this point that the weight of their actions dawned on them.
“We felt like we were already in far too deep to turn around at that point,” Whalley recalled.
Both women had been assured that the contents of the cases were harmless, but as they boarded their flight back to the UK, anxiety set in.
Caught at the Airport
Their worst fears were realized when they arrived at Birmingham International Airport.
Customs officers stopped them after noticing something suspicious about their luggage.
Inside, instead of watches and jewellery, they found a large quantity of cannabis – 16.5kg in Bannister’s case, and 19kg in Whalley’s. The total street value of the drugs was estimated to be £160,000.
Bannister was left “gobsmacked” by the discovery and expressed her shock: “We thought that’s it, our lives are over.”
Both women were detained for over 24 hours before being released on bail.
Bannister even suffered a panic attack and had to be hospitalized during this time.
Facing the Consequences
In the courtroom, the emotional toll was evident. Both women burst into tears as they were handed their suspended sentences.
They argued that they had been exploited due to their vulnerability and social media presence, and their emotional distress was palpable as they reflected on their poor decisions.
“We’ve made a mistake, and we’re really sorry for that,” Bannister said. “I wish we’d made better decisions.”
Despite being given a chance with suspended sentences, both women acknowledged that their lives would never be the same.
Whalley, who was an adult nurse, lost her job and now faces the possibility of being struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Bannister, who once ran a clothing brand in Dubai, now resides with friends in Manchester.
A Public Backlash
Since their sentencing, the two women have faced a storm of criticism on social media.
“We’re being treated as if we’ve murdered someone,” Whalley said, her voice filled with frustration.
“What I really don’t like is people saying I’ve had a baby to avoid going to jail. That simply wasn’t the case.”
The public backlash has been hard to bear, especially as Whalley’s mother recently passed away.
Despite this, both women insist they’ve learned from their mistakes and feel deep shame over what happened.
Moving Forward: Lessons Learned
Looking back, Bannister and Whalley both agree that they wish they had made different choices.
They each plead guilty to the importation of cannabis and have been sentenced to suspended prison terms with additional rehabilitation and community service.
The emotional and personal cost of their actions will be something they carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Bannister summed it up best: “Everything is different now. I do look back and think, I wish I didn’t do that.”