‘Drug dealer given an A to Z of rivals’ (From Bury Times)

‘Drug dealer given an A to Z of rivals’

11:03am Thursday 29th October 2009

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A “CORRUPT” police officer gave an alleged drug dealer, operating in Radcliffe, an “A to Z” directory of all his local drug gang rivals, a court heard. Police found the directory in a car which undercover officers had seen Gary Knox driving before his arrest, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

The trial was told that Knox — said to be part of a gang which ran a drugs factory in Outwood Road — had connections to a “corrupt police officer” who was a former member of the drugs unit in Bolton.

Neil Fryman, prosecuting, told the jury that Philip Berry, aged 42, from Deane, Bolton, had previously pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office in connection with the case.

Mr Fryman said: “The book contains an A to Z directory, by nicknames, handwritten by the police officer Berry. An A to Z directory of local drug dealers in Bolton.

“He (Knox) had dynamite material on all his local rivals.”

A total of seven people are standing trial accused of conspiracy to supply drugs.

The court had earlier heard that all seven defendants were behind a “drugs factory” on an industrial estate in Outwood Road, Radcliffe, which was raided by police in 2008.

Inside, officers found heroin, amphetamine and a 25-kilo drum filled with 10-kilos of cutting agent commonly used by drug dealers to dilute heroin.

The unit had been watched by police for three months. Knox had been seen visiting the unit while other defendants were also seen coming and going with packages, the court heard.

Knox, aged 33, of Seathwaite Road, Farnworth, denies two charges of conspiracy to supply drugs and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. He also denies a charge of perverting the course of justice.

The six other defendants all deny two counts of conspiracy to supply drugs. They are: Anthony Grainger, aged 33, of Chipping Road, Bury; Philip Meiring, aged 33, of Dickenson Street, Bolton; Francis Hunt, aged 41, of Spindlewood Road, Ince; Joanne Greaves, aged 37, of Whittle Grove, Bolton; Jamie Sewart, aged 31, of Tiverton Walk, Bolton; and Gail Hadfield, aged 27, of Stanley Road, Heaton.

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