ONE of the alleged ringleaders of a crime gang was a second-hand electrical dealer who had nothing to do with illegal drugs, a court heard.

Father-of-two Anthony Lockwood said at his trial at Preston Crown Court that he made his money buying and selling a variety of goods.

The jury were also told that Lockwood lived in a small and cramped caravan near Gisburn with his wife, Karen, and their two young children.

Lockwood, 41, of Stock Lane, Middop, Gisburn, denies three charges of conspiracy to supply ecstasy, amphetamine and cannabis resin between September 1 1999 and February 6, 2001.

He is on trial with the alleged head of the gang, known as The Firm, Matthew Glover, 39.

Glover, of Foxstones Lane, Cliviger, denies the same charges.

They were arrested in February last year following a police operation code named Norfolk led by the National Crime Squad which was investigating an alleged large-scale conspiracy to supply drugs throughout the North West of England.

Earlier the court heard that Glover had an affluent lifestyle made from profits from drug dealing, though he avoided getting his hands dirty.

One example included his wife, Cathy, paying £6,000 in cash for a family holiday to Spain. Glover claimed expensive jewellery recovered from his house had been won at snooker games at a club in Burnley.

The Firm collapsed after two drug deals worth more than £500,000 were foiled by police.

The trial is expected to finish early next week.

(Proceeding)