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British OnlyFans Models Face Legal Repercussions After Cannabis Smuggling Attempt
Two women, identified as OnlyFans content creators, are facing the consequences after being apprehended for attempting to traffic a substantial quantity of cannabis, estimated at £160,000, into the United Kingdom. Sophie Bannister, 30, and Levi-April Whalley, 31, who are also known for posting suggestive images on the online platform OnlyFans, which boasts over 200 million users globally, were given suspended sentences for their roles in the drug smuggling operation.
Online Persona Contrasts with Criminal Activity
Prior to their arrest for importing drugs from the United States, Bannister and Whalley actively utilized OnlyFans, sharing a series of revealing photos to generate income. Bannister acknowledged their participation on the platform, stating to MailOnline, ‘I’ve not been posting recently due to other commitments. Levi and I engaged with it lightheartedly and as a means to supplement our income.’
One particular image depicts the pair wearing cowboy hats while exposing their bare buttocks. Bannister described the photo as ‘just a bit of fun.’
Tears and Regret in Court
The courtroom witnessed displays of emotion as both women wept upon receiving 18-month suspended sentences at Preston Crown Court the previous week. Following their release from court, having avoided immediate imprisonment, they conveyed to the Daily Mail that despite appearances, their lives were ‘devastated’. They attributed their involvement to alleged ‘grooming’ by international criminal elements.
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Sophie Bannister, 30, and Levi-April Whalley, 31, utilized OnlyFans to share suggestive content for financial gain. Pictured: One image features the women in cowboy hats exposing their bare backsides.
The duo posted numerous near-nude photographs online to earn money.
Bannister admitted to MailOnline: ‘I’ve not been posting on it recently because I’ve been busy with other things.’
Claims of Unawareness and Coercion
Whalley, a former nurse now at risk of professional repercussions, and Bannister, a boarding school alumna, maintained their stance that they believed the luggage contained watches. They admitted experiencing unease regarding the true contents during their return flight, acknowledging they felt ‘too deeply involved to withdraw’.
Authorities apprehended the pair upon arrival at Birmingham International Airport after their pre-Christmas shopping excursion to New York in 2023. The illicit substances were discovered within their checked baggage.
Described as ‘true friends’, they showed solidarity in the dock, holding hands as the judge delivered suspended prison terms, noting their lack of prior offenses since the incident.
Hailing originally from Blackburn, Lancashire, the two women boast nearly 60,000 followers on Instagram and frequently shared posts about their international beach vacations before their arrest.
According to their account, a contact Bannister made in Marbella via Instagram offered them £2,000 each to transport items they believed to be watches and jewelry back from New York.
Whalley recounted to MailOnline that the proposition was presented as a ‘free holiday and shopping opportunity, with the simple task of bringing suitcases back, delaying any reflection on the specifics until the return journey.’
She added, ‘Visiting New York has been a lifelong aspiration since childhood. I impulsively thought ‘Let’s do it,’ without fully considering the potential ramifications.’
Consequently, they ‘very foolishly’ accepted the offer.
Preston Crown Court was informed that Bannister’s luggage contained 34 heat-sealed packages with 16.5kg of cannabis, estimated to have a street value of £40,500.
Bannister reiterated her lack of knowledge regarding the contents, expressing to the Mail her feelings of being ‘absolutely heartbroken and gobsmacked’.
Sophie Bannister (pictured in New York) and Levi-April Whalley, both 30, from Blackburn, were apprehended with 35kg of the Class B drug concealed in their luggage.
Whalley, now a mother, stated they were instructed to ‘enjoy their holiday’ with the understanding that they would transport the watches back upon its conclusion. However, upon receiving the cases and checking in for their flight to Birmingham, connecting through Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport on December 9, 2023, Bannister reported feeling ‘somewhat anxious’.
‘I wasn’t entirely sure of the contents to be honest,’ she admitted.
‘I just started to become quite panicky.’
Whalley indicated that the ‘reality dawned’ on them towards the end of their trip, but they asserted they felt compelled to proceed with the smuggling operation due to ‘threats’.
‘We had a truly fantastic time in New York.’
‘Then on the final day, facing the return of these cases, it was a moment of realization, ‘S***, what are we actually involved in?’
‘However, we felt we had progressed too far to turn back at that juncture.’
Upon retrieving the secured, keyless cases from the baggage carousel at Birmingham Airport, they were intercepted by Customs officials.
‘The officer inquired if we had personally packed our luggage,’ recounted Bannister.
‘Initially, Levi affirmed ‘Yes,’ but upon being asked to open it, we declined.’
‘Subsequently, upon opening it himself, the contents were revealed.’
Details of the Seized Cannabis
The court was informed that Bannister’s case contained 34 heat-sealed packages holding 16.5kg of cannabis, with an estimated street value of £40,500. Whalley’s case contained a further 39 packages with 19kg of cannabis, valued at approximately £121,500.
Reiterating her claimed ignorance of the illegal contents, Bannister conveyed to the Mail her utter devastation and disbelief. ‘We believed our lives were over.’ The two women were held in police custody for over 24 hours, during which Bannister was hospitalized due to a severe panic attack, before being granted bail.
Vulnerability and Exploitation
Both maintain they were ‘groomed’ through their social media presence, arguing they were susceptible to exploitation due to recent difficult personal circumstances, including relationship breakdowns and, in Bannister’s case, financial debt.
Former nurse Whalley, facing potential professional disqualification, and Bannister, who attended boarding school, persisted in their claim of believing the cases contained watches.
Sophie Bannister (pictured) and Levi-April Whalley, both 30 from Blackburn, told border officials they had been on a three-day shopping trip in New York City.
Whalley disclosed to the Mail that she sought to ‘escape her personal situation’ at the time.
‘I reasoned ‘Why not’, without genuinely contemplating the potential repercussions.’
Whalley suggests traffickers target women with a visible ‘certain lifestyle’ on social media, enticing them with the lure of a ‘free vacation’.
‘They approach vulnerable individuals who, despite a large social media following, may lack genuine self-assurance.’
‘They evidently observed our frequent travel.’
She emphasizes that her present reaction as a mother would be an unequivocal ‘no’.
‘This underscores our vulnerability at that time, leading us to undertake such a risk and opportunity.’
Professional and Personal Fallout
Whalley lost her position as a registered adult nurse after informing her employer about her arrest. She now faces being struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and is currently under interim suspension.
Currently, Whalley is balancing the demands of managing a beauty business with single motherhood.
Bannister, who was educated at Kirkham Grammar School, costing £15,000 annually, previously managed a clothing brand in Dubai but is now residing with friends in Manchester following her arrest.
‘It has caused considerable distress and pain,’ she expressed.
‘My family has largely disowned me. It has not been easy.’
Whalley believes traffickers target women like her on social media showcasing a ‘certain lifestyle’, drawing them in with offers of ‘free holidays’.
Whalley is pictured on a beach in Thailand in one of her social media posts.
Public Backlash and Sentencing Details
Since their sentencing this week, the pair have received a barrage of ‘critical’ messages regarding their criminal actions.
‘We are being vilified as if we have committed murder,’ stated Whalley, who recently experienced the death of her mother.
‘It’s appalling. I have a young child and I am being cyberbullied.’
‘What I particularly dislike is the insinuation that I had a child to avoid imprisonment. That is simply untrue.’
‘I am deeply ashamed for my family; this is a burden I will carry for life.’
‘Furthermore, the hurtful comments from others are also enduring. We made a serious error in judgment, and we deeply regret it.’
‘And we are facing the consequences, beyond just the suspended sentence.’
‘Everything is irrevocably changed, and I reflect with profound regret on my actions.’
‘Ultimately, we made a deliberate choice to embark on this path, and we must accept the repercussions.’
‘We both acknowledge our deep shame,’ Bannister added.
‘I genuinely wish we had made more responsible choices.’
Both women entered guilty pleas to the illegal avoidance of a prohibition on importing a class B drug.
Last Wednesday at Preston Crown Court, Judge Richard Archer sentenced Whalley to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, alongside 10 days of rehabilitation and 80 hours of unpaid community service. Bannister received a 20-month sentence, also suspended for 18 months, accompanied by 30 days of rehabilitation activities and 200 hours of unpaid work.