An assault victim, offered bribes to drop his evid
An assault victim, offered bribes to drop his evidence told the Old Bailey today (mon) of his terror when, wired for sound, he met two men in a pub to collect a pnds stlg 2,000 backhander in a police sting operation.
Paul Ryan, a computer engineer, was plagued with a series of sinister telephone calls in the days leading up to the accused attacker’s trial.
Mr Ryan was warned not to give evidence by a host of callers including a man who claimed to come from the notorious Moss Side of Manchester.
But he wisely went to police and Kevin Sheeran and businessman Leslie Card were arrested moments after allegedly handing a pnds stlg 2,000 bribe to Mr Ryan.
Sheeran, 29, of (1) Roffey Close, Horley, Surrey has admitted doing acts tending and intended to pervert the course of justice and he will be sentenced later.
Card, 46, a motorbike dealer from (12) Bracken Walk, Tonbridge, Kent, denies the same charge.
Timothy Spencer, prosecuting, told how on April 23, 1998, Mr Ryan and his brother Bernard Ryan were attacked by Sheeran’s brother Liam Sheeran.
The Ryans were hospitalised by the violent assault with Bernard ending up with a fractured skull, jurors heard.
When Liam Sheeran, 24, from Horley, was about to stand trial at Guildford Crown Court, Paul Ryan received an anonymous call from someone with a Mancunian accent who said he was acting ‘on behalf of the Sheeran family’.
The man said he was from Moss Side and told Mr Ryan to drop his evidence.
‘The dissuasion was by threats of violence or promises of money’ said Mr Spencer.
Frightened, Mr Ryan went to police, who gave him a tiny hidden microphone to tape any further threats about the trial.
Mr Ryan later received another call, this time from Kevin Sheeran, offering him cash if he would go away instead of attending the trial, planned for 8 November last year, Mr Spencer said.
Kevin Sheeran, 29, of (1) Roffey Close, Horley, apologised about the attack Mr Ryan received at the hands of his younger brother.
He then suggested they both met up at the Mill House Restaurant near Horley.
Mr Ryan agreed to meet at 1.
25pm that afternoon on November 5.
Mr Ryan agreed, but said he was running late.
When Sheeran telephoned Mr Ryan at home in Redhill, he told him he was waiting for his wife to return from the shops as his family would need some things while they went away.
In reality, he was checking his recording equipment with the help of police.
Outside the Mill House restaurant, a Mercedes pulled up.
Three men got out, including Kevin Sheeran and Card.
They both got drinks.
Later, as Mr Ryan arrived he saw a couple of men at the door to the restaurant.
Giving evidence he told the court how he was so scared he almost fled at that point but then realised they had nothing to do with the meeting.
‘I was petrified,’ he said.
‘At that point I almost decided I was just going to leave and just get out of it.
‘
But he changed his mind.
‘I’d decided I’d come this far,’ Mr Ryan added.
Mr Ryan gathered his courage and went in the restaurant.
In a loud voice he told the bartender: ‘I’ve come to meet a couple of mates.
‘
A man then raised his glass, and, Mr Ryan guessed it must be Sheeran, and walked over to him and Card.
Kevin Sheeran did most of the talking in what was to follow.
‘Sheeran asked Mr Ryan if his pocket was open, then placed an envelope containing two thousand pnds stlg in it,’ Mr Spencer told the court.
‘Mr Ryan made a comment about the cheapness of his jacket and hoped there wasn’t a hole in it’, the court heard.
Mr Ryan then said he was ‘terrified and shaking’ but Card replied: ‘You don’t have to worry about nothing mate.
‘
He was then reassured that the ‘judge would chuck the case out against Liam.
‘
Card allegedly added ‘hopefully it’ll be nice and quick.
‘
Mr Ryan said he was happy to let the matter drop and told the men that ‘all he wanted to do was walk away from the whole thing.
‘
When Card and Sheeran left the restaurant they were arrested by detectives as they got to their parked Mercedes.
Card denied he was involved with the witness-nobbling attempt.
‘Card went on to say he had no knowledge of any threats or intimidation made by any of the Ryan brothers.
‘As far as his presence at the restaurant was concerned he had only been there to give a lift,’ Mr Spencer said.
‘He knew Kevin was there to meet someone but he didn’t know who or for what reason.
‘ Card then said he went to the other end of the bar, but Mr Spencer said this was a lie.
‘He was part and parcel of what was going on and from his comments he obviously knew what was going on,’ Mr Spencer told the jury.
The trial continues and is not expected to end until after Easter.
ends
