A detective has criticised the sentence handed to a drug baron and his lover who splashed their dirty money on luxury holidays while still claiming thousands in benefits.

Tatooed Michael Lawrence, 42, and his girlfriend Tracy Lucas, 44, were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, November 17, to eight years in prison and seven months in prison respectively.

Lawrence’s crimes included laundering more than £100,000 from the supply of drugs, while Lucas was imprisoned for fraudulently claiming her share of £25,000 in benefits while living the high life.

Speaking after the case, Detective Sergeant Simon Rogers, of Hammersmith and Fulham police, said: "We are bitterly disappointed. It didn't reflect the level of criminality or 18 months of work.

"It doesn't send out a message at all. They say crime doesn't pay but it obviously does.

"They are part of a sophisticated organised crime network which had been active for the last seven years.

“Their downfall was their greed. Clever villains can hide assets but they didn't and that is what undid them.

"It is just disappointing the judge hasn't imposed a sentence that we were expecting."

Chessington-based Lawrence, whose tattoo reads “what goes around comes around”, was the head of a crime family, which included his brother and sister.

Police caught the drug baron in October last year seizing 10kg of cocaine and cannabis with a street value of more than £250,000.

The court heard the couple splashed £37,000 of dirty money on jaunts to Orlando and Mexico.

Sentencing Lawrence, Judge Michael Hopmeier said cocaine dealing led to "misery, degradation and not infrequently deaths."

He said: "Far from being in financial straits the material produced by the prosecution suggests you enjoyed a very good life with substantial monies coming in.

"The defendants had no need for the money. It was simply greed."

He also criticised the £60,000 they falsely claimed from Hammersmith and Fulham Council by pretending they lived apart.

He said: "Everyone knows how criminal benefit fraud is and the fact is they are actually stealing from the public purse with the result that those who are deserving and need the money may not get it."

Other members of the gang were given sentences ranging from three years to unpaid work requirements.

The three bedroom house in Chessington which Michael Lawrence lied on a mortgage form to buy, has been sold, Judge Hopmeier said.

But the new owners are refusing to exchange contracts until the Mercedes van in which drugs were found has been removed.

Police have made an application to confiscate it, either to sell or use for surveillance operations.

A proceeds of crime hearing on January 14 will attempt to grab back the rest of the criminal money and assets belonging to Michael Lawrence and Tracy Lucas.