Thousands paid out to corrupt DC, jury hears
Oct 8 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal
THE jailed henchman of fugitive Allan Foster told a court his boss paid a detective thousands of pounds after the police officer agreed to “mark his cards,” so Foster could stay one step ahead of the law.
Steven Bevens revealed that Foster, who is now on the run following the murder of David “Noddy” Rice, had told him of the deal while the pair were behind bars.
Flanked by security guards, Bevens told Newcastle Crown Court that Foster would pay the Northumbria Police officer £2,000 a week in meetings at Marlbro Fitness Centre, Seaham.
Prosecutors claim Detective Constable John Jones, from the force’s Crime Operations Department, was that officer.
The court was told that despite Foster showing the officer “a good time” on a £10,000 spending spree in London, police turned up at his home without warning after an alleged theft of £80,000 jewellery.
Rather than facing jail, it was said that Foster arranged to flee to Spain but returned soon afterwards to carry out the gangland murder of Mr Rice, in Marsden Grotto car park, South Shields, in May 2006, accompanied by Bevens.
Bevens told the court: “Throughout the course of the journey, he rang John and had a bit of an animated conversation.
“Basically he wasn’t happy because John had said he was able to mark his card if the police were coming for him.”
While Foster was away, Bevens continued to run the drug empire but despite attending the gym did not give the officer any more cash, the court heard.
Bevens, 40, who pleaded guilty to the murder of Mr Rice in May 2006, was told he must serve a minimum of 26 years for his part in the killing.
He told the court that Foster told him of a deal with the police after tipping them off about the location of firearms, and was given a reduced sentence over his part in the supply of cannabis resin in 2003.
While inside he said Foster claimed he had met a police officer called John at a gym and that they had struck up a deal where he could obtain information.
“Part of his job was that he could access some information that might be of use to Foster. In other words, he would mark our cards so we were not arrested. Foster told me that he had put him on the payroll and he was giving him £2,000 a week.”
Earlier Detective Superintendent Barbara Franklin, the senior officer investigating Mr Rice’s murder, told the court that it became almost impossible to investigate the case due to the reluctance of witnesses to come forward.
Foster has never been arrested or questioned in connection with the killing as he fled the country soon after.
Det Supt Franklin told the court that there was intelligence that Foster was dead, but added: “We have not got a body to match that intelligence.
“I would need something to show me he was dead before I believed that.”
The officer also said the force believed Foster was in Spain.
She said he was dealing drugs on a huge scale and was responsible for the majority of the drugs coming into South Tyneside, if not the North East.
“He was feared by many,” she said. “Throughout the inquiry we had problems with people not wanting to speak to the police because of the fear Allan Foster would get them and kill them.”
Det Supt Franklin said Foster’s bragging about having a cop “in his pocket” made the already difficult inquiry almost impossible.
She even had the option of changing her own investigating team but added: “I thought it was tarring everyone with the same brush and I didn’t want to do that.”
The court heard that she had previously worked with Jones in 2003 while in another role but she told the jury that she had no reason to doubt his integrity.
Jones, 48, denies three charges of misconduct in public office.
Lifelong friend Bruce McCall, 42, of Cornelia Terrace, Seaham, owner of the Marlbro Fitness Centre in the village denies aiding and abetting the misconduct and Class C drug charges.
The trial continues.
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