Real-life 'Breaking Bad' science teacher jailed
A UK chemistry teacher who was the mastermind behind a plan to flood Britain’s drugs market with almost pure amphetamine has been dubbed a real-life Walter White, after similarities to the main character of TV show ‘Breaking Bad’.
Ryszard Jakubczyk plotted to make almost 40 kilograms – over $7 million worth - of the drug every two days from a secret lab, mirroring the plot of the hit series.
Detectives who caught the lecturer found the similarities astonishing, immediately comparing him to White - the fictitious chemistry teacher who produces crystal meth.
Known as ‘The Professor’ in the underworld, Jakubczyk produced an almost 80 per cent pure version of amphetamine, which investigators say is amongst the highest grades ever uncovered in the UK.
After receiving a tip off, officers put Jakubczyk under heavy surveillance before swooping on the lab, which was concealed in an underground bunker.
Lead investigator Dave Archer said: “It was as if they had used the plot of ‘Breaking Bad’ to come up with the whole idea.
“You’d expect to see ‘pure’ amphetamine at 40-50 per cent – but this was 78 per cent. It would have made them millions.”
Actor Bryan Cranston plays White, a teacher who turns to producing methamphetamine after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Officer Archer said: “We did research watching the series on Netflix and I bought our lawyer the box set after the trial.”
Jakubczyk was jailed for nine years while his accomplices were handed sentences of between seven and five years.
