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British father missing for 20 years drowned in the English Channel 'while trying to smuggle drugs from France in a speedboat'
A British father who went missing on a trip to France 20 years ago drowned in the English Channel during a suspected botched drug smuggling operation, a judge found.
Kent father Anthony Dugdale, then 43, disappeared after travelling to Calais towing a speedboat on a French ferry with a friend in April 2004 and has never been heard from since.
The judge, Master Karen Shuman, said evidence from police inquiries suggested that Mr Dugdale - who was 'not an able seaman' and had previously been rescued from the Channel on another attempt to cross - drowned after trying to cross in an unsuitable speedboat and being hit by a container ship.
The court heard Mr Dugdale, from Orpington, Kent, had travelled to France with friend Richard Patwell, from Alloa, Scotland, taking along a speedboat he had bought for £11,000 cash shortly beforehand.
British father missing for 20 years drowned in the English Channel
Kent father Anthony Dugdale, then 43, disappeared after travelling to Calais towing a speedboat on a French ferry with a friend in April 2004 and has never been heard from since.
I doubt this man will be found after all this time, unless he is somehow matched to an existing UID, but he is missing.
