A MAN accused of plotting to kill Bolton drugs baron Billy Webb as he lay asleep in his home denied being involved in his death, a court heard.

Mr Webb was shot dead as he slept with his girlfriend in his flat in Whitledge Road, Bryn, Wigan, after two unknown gunmen used a key to sneak in.

The assassins have not been caught, but in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court are two former Bolton men -- Brian Roper and Paul Swann -- who both deny conspiring to murder Mr Webb in May 2001.

Police interviews with Roper were read to the jury yesterday in which he said: "I am not a murderer or part of any conspiracy to murder anyone. I know nothing about Webb's death."

Prosecuting QC, Charles Garside, said that Roper told police that he was living in Mill Hill, Blackburn, at the time and had gone to bed around midnight with his girlfriend and remained there until the morning, by which time Mr Webb had been killed.

The court had previously heard that mobile phone records allegedly proved that Swann and Roper were involved in the murder and Roper rang his girlfriend at the time he claims he was asleep in bed with her. They also allegedly show that both men were in the Wigan area that night.

Asked by police about his mobile phone, Roper denied having more than one and disputed that its number ended with 668. He said he was a phone salesman and had access to phones but only had one of his own.

Roper, aged 26, and 25-year-old Swann also deny perverting the course of justice by providing false statements to investigating police officers. Alongside them in the dock are Roper's girlfriend, Sarah Barber, Julie Hardman and Alexander Latimer.

Barber, aged 23, of Barn Court; Hardman, aged 21, of Hastings Road, and 24-year-old Latimer, of Rodmell Close, Bromley Cross, all Bolton, all deny that charge.

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VICTIM: Billy Webb

It is alleged that his mobile phone number was on a receipt, bearing his fingerprints, found in his Range Rover for a television taken to Cleartone for repairs. Interviewed about this, Roper denied having taken the television to the shop although he agreed an employee had picked him out at an identity parade.It was put to Roper by detectives that Swann had changed his initial story and claimed that he had received a phone call from Swann that night and Roper told him to meet him in a park in Little Lever. Roper denied that was true and said that Swann had collected the keys to Roper's Range Rover at 12.30am.

It was also suggested that Swann told police that Roper had influence over him. "I have no influence over him. He has been my friend for many years, I have worked for him and he has worked for me," said Roper.