The decision comes almost a year after Richards was arrested at Gatwick airport under a European arrest warrant. French police at the time described Richards as “one of the biggest, if not the biggest supplier of drugs between Dominica and Guadeloupe and someone who had contact with the South American (drug) sector.” See related.

He was accused in the arrest warrant of smuggling approximately 80kg of cocaine as well as a pump-action shotgun and two hunting guns into Guadeloupe. He has maintained his innocence.

Following the magistrate’s ruling, Richards, 54 who had been in Wandsworth prison was set free under bail conditions.

The magistrate’s ruling has brought into sharp international focus conditions at prisons in Guadeloupe and Martinique. Ben Cooper, who represented Richards argued that the Caribbean jails were overcrowded and dirty, infested with rats, toads, cockroaches and other animals.

Prisoners were said to be often confined to their cells for up to 22 hours a day, to lack adequate educational or recreational facilities, and to be subject to violence and excessive punishments for minor infractions of prison discipline.

He further argued that although the Overseas Territories were part of France their jails were a far cry from what exists in that country.

In his ruling, district judge Quentin Purdy said that although there had been no independent inspections of prison facilities in the French West Indies, the series of court findings in France revealed problems in the jails. "Those findings … [speak] of the 'wretchedness' of the premises and reveal 'an affront to human dignity' with promiscuity resulting from overcrowding," he said. "I cannot be satisfied the human rights – in both Guadeloupe and Martinique – will be honoured."

Purdy dismissed the French extradition request and released Richards on bail. The French authorities have one week to appeal the judge’s decision.