Norman Pilcher

[3][4] Eric Clapton was nearly arrested at The Pheasantry on drugs charges, but escaped from the rear of the building when Pilcher rang the doorbell to announce "postman, special delivery".

[6] As is evident from reports in the alternative press and histories of that time, it was widely believed that Pilcher was frequently planting the drugs his victims were convicted of possessing, though this has never been proven.

Pilcher's reputation was damaged in the early 1970s after it was claimed during the drug smuggling trial of Basil Sands, that the defendant (who had been caught red-handed) was innocent, and had been working with the police.

After the judge directed the jury to discount any private belief they might have that Pilcher's superior, Victor Kelaher, was at the centre of a drug-smuggling ring, since this was something that should be addressed at a subsequent trial, Sands was convicted and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.

[7] In September 1973 Pilcher was convicted and sentenced to four years' imprisonment,[2][8] with the judge admonishing the disgraced ex-policeman, "You poisoned the wells of criminal justice, and set about it deliberately.