Liverpool security firm denies moving assets to keep gangster's money away from prosecutors

The owners of a prominent Liverpool security firm today denied moving cash from their accounts in an attempt to hide it from authorities going after feared gangster Stephen Clarke’s money.

Clarke, 48, and his brother Peter Clarke, 37, headed a ruthless criminal network trafficking cocaine and cannabis to Northern Ireland and Manchester.

The pair, who had access to a Southport lock-up stocked with guns, samurai swords and machetes, were locked up for a combined 26 and a half years in 2013.

Now prosecutors are battling to reclaim an alleged £2m criminal fortune from Stephen, Peter and their respective wives Rachel and Maria Clarke, which they allege is “squirrelled away in a murky web of hidden assets.”

Today Preston Crown Court heard extensive evidence on Premier Approved ltd, an agency which took a commission for finding work on construction sites for other security firms.

Nick Johnson, QC, prosecuting, earlier alleged the activities of the company were “highly suspicious” and claimed several of the security firms sub-contracted by Premier were linked to Stephen Clarke.

The firm was founded in 2006 by Clarke and his friends from the security industry; Tony Rimmer, Peter Littler and Kevin Dally.

Mr Dally’s wife Lynsey Dally, director of the company, was questioned over the transfer of Stephen and Rachel Clarke’s 25% share in the business to other shareholders, including herself, Stephen’s dad Billy Clarke, his wife Lorraine Clarke and Mr Rimmer.

Mr Johnson said: “This was all part of an attempt to frustrate the confiscation process by moving assets out of their name.”

But Mrs Dally claimed she had been worried about a proposed new law which would prevent anyone with a criminal conviction from acting as “the controlling mind” behind a company.

She said: “It was a proposed solution at the time because we would have been a company with a share of nothing, I was panicking to be honest.”

Although she admitted she had little to do with the day to day running of the business, she described its “simple” business model as its strength.

She said: “Its success is its simplicity. We have taken ourselves out of supplying people, which are a very expensive commodity for a business.”

The court also heard from contracts manager John Dwyer, described by Nigel Power, QC, defending, as the “rainmaker” bringing work into the company.

Mr Dwyer explained his contacts within the construction industry asked him to provide security firms for their sites.

Mr Power showed the court photos from a series of construction projects Premier had provided security for in the area, including at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, Grafton Park and Herculaneum Quay.

Preston Crown Court

However Mr Johnson questioned Mr Dwyer on when he began work for the company.

The court heard he worked on a freelance basis until 2013, when he began to work as a regular employee for Premier.

Mr Johnson said: “You never made any declarations to HM Revenue & Customs in the years 2009 to 2013 did you?”

Mr Dwyer replied: “I don’t have to talk about that, that is between me and the HMRC.”

The court also heard he had been disqualified from driving, and he was asked explain how he travelled to meet clients.

Mr Dwyer replied: “I got about, I just had to get on with it. I would get taxis, or lifts. It was my own fault so I just had to deal with it.”

Mr Power called office manager of Premier Claire Hickey to the stand, who provided a series of invoices sent to sub-contractors and described keeping track of the various jobs obtained by Mr Dwyer.

Billy Clarke, also called to give evidence, described the business as “legitimate.”

The complex Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is due to continue until early next month.

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Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/