A BASINGSTOKE woman says her life has been thrown into turmoil after her step-father was told he is to be extradited to Peru this week.

Jamie Cato, who used to live in Basingstoke, is set to become one of the first people in the country to be extradited to the South American country to face drug smuggling charges, after he allegedly sent a parcel of cocaine while he was in Peru in 2009 looking at holiday flats with his brother.

The 44-year-old was about to be released from prison for his role in transporting £20,000 of amphetamine into Cumbria when he was arrested by police in Blackpool, where he now lives – three years after the crime allegedly took place.

Shamima Akhtar, of Winchester Road, Basingstoke, believes her step-father is innocent, and fears he could be murdered in a Peruvian prison, after his brother was killed whilst serving time there.

He was allegedly thrown from the fourth floor of a prison block.

She told The Gazette: “He said he posted the parcel because he had no clue what was in it.”

She added: “The guy didn’t have his passport which you need as ID to post something. It was just a random guy. The guy was an elderly man with a walking stick and my step-dad didn’t think anything of it. He said it was a parcel for his son.”

She said Mr Cato has adhered to a curfew order since his arrest, and said the family has appealed to the High Court, Supreme Court and European Court, but all rejected the appeal.

The 23-year-old added: “The prison he’s going to in Peru is one of the top 10 worst in the world.”

Miss Akhtar, a recycling service coordinator, added: “I recently got engaged and he was meant to be giving me away. It’s tearing our family apart and there’s nothing we can do. I can’t stand to see my family like this. We are all trying to be strong but we are ultimately going to lose our dad.”

Mr Cato, who runs his own removal company, is expected to stand trial on Monday, June 20.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said: "Jamie Cato, of no fixed address, was arrested on June 4, 2013 at an address in Simpson Road, Blackpool, following a request from the Peruvian authorities.

"The arrest relates to alleged drugs offences, namely being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the exportation of goods, namely cocaine.

"He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on January 5, 2015 for an extradition hearing. Subsequently, his extradition to Peru was ordered.

"On April 26, 2016, the High Court rejected Jamie Cato's appeal against the extradition order. The extradition order was upheld.

"His deadline for surrender is Wednesday, June 22."