A judge heard the last evidence on the alleged criminal fortune of feared security boss Stephen Clarke today.
Clarke, 48, and his brother Peter Clarke, 37, headed a ruthless drugs trafficking network supplying cocaine and cannabis to Manchester and Northern Ireland.
The brothers, who had access to a fearsome cache of guns, samurai swords and machetes stashed in a Southport lock-up, were jailed for a combined 26 and a half years in 2013.
Now prosecutors are locked in a battle to seize an alleged £2m of ill-gotten-gains linked to Stephen, Peter and their respective wives Rachel and Maria Clarke.
Today Nigel Power, QC, called the last defence witnesses for Clarke, after arguing the majority of his security and scaffolding business activities were legitimate.
Much of the case has revolved around the activities of agency Premier Approved, which sources work guarding construction sites and sub-contracts it to security firms.
Earlier prosecutor Nick Johnson, QC, described the business as “highly suspicious” and questioned its director Lynsey Dally, contracts manager John Dwyer and office manager Claire Hickey.
Today Preston Crown Court heard evidence from Michael Oliver, director of security firm Belfry.
Mr Oliver said he had received work through Premier Approved since 2006, and paid the company around 50% of any profit from the jobs as commission.
Preston Crown Court
Yesterday Mr Johnson suggested Mrs Dally, wife of Premier’s co-founder Kevin Dally, had transferred shares from Stephen and Rachel Clarke to “frustrate the confiscation process” after he was arrested in 2012.
However Mrs Dally claimed she had been worried about a potential new law proposed by the government which would prevent anyone with a criminal conviction from being a “controlling” mind” behind a security firm.
To corroborate her story Mr Power called evidence from Karl Barry, a regulatory and licensing compliance consultant and board member of Merseyside Crimestoppers.
Mr Barry told the court he had attended a meeting with Mr Dwyer and Clarke’s dad Billy Clarke, also a shareholder of Premier, alongside a representative of the Security Industry Authority, at a Frankie and Benny’s restaurant on the East Lancs Road.
He told the court the group had discussed whether the firm’s agency business model meant it required a licence under legislation governing security companies.
He denied Mr Johnson’s suggestion he had received payment from the company.
The court is set to hear evidence from Rachel Clarke early next week.
The complex Proceeds of Crime Act Hearing is set to last into early next month.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/