The Former Mayor of Liverpool and ex-Liverpool City Council deputy leader are among 12 defendants who will be brought before Preston Crown Court
Joe Anderson outside Preston Magistrates’ Court following last month’s hearing
Former Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson is due to appear in court today charged with bribery and misconduct. The 67-year-old, of the Beechwalk in Knotty Ash, is one of 12 men and women who are scheduled to be brought before Preston Crown Court today, Friday, in connection with Merseyside Police’s Operation Aloft, an investigation into the awarding of commercial and business contracts by Liverpool City Council between 2010 and 2020.
Anderson led the council from 2010 and became the city’s first directly elected mayor in 2012, serving in that position until his arrest in 2020. He has been accused of bribery, misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.
The council’s ex-deputy leader Derek Hatton is also listed to appear before the Honorary Recorder of Preston Robert Altham from 10.30am. The 77-year-old, of Allerton Road, has been charged with one count of bribery and one count of counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office.
Others charged include 57-year-old former council director of regeneration Nick Kavanagh and his 51-year-old ex-assistant director Andrew Barr. Julian and Paul Flanagan, the founders of building contractors the Flanagan Group, also face proceedings, as does Anderson’s son David.
Full details of the charges faced by each defendant were heard for the first time during a hearing before Preston Magistrates’ Court last month. In Joe Anderson’s case, the count of bribery alleges that he “requested, agreed to receive or accepted a bribe, financial or other advantage” in order to “perform improperly” between February 9 2019 and July 28 2020.
The particulars of the second charge, conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office, meanwhile state that, between February 2 2016 and December 3 2020, he “conspired with Andrew Barr and David Anderson to grant and arrange privileged special access” to himself in his position as Mayor “for commercial or business purposes, including in a manner of benefit to David Anderson and his company SSC”. The third offence, of misconduct in a public office, alleges that, between June 28 2010 and August 5 2015, he “sent or arranged the sending of threatening letters to himself”.
Anderson was not asked to enter any pleas to these charges on the last occasion, with the latter two counts only suitable to be dealt with at the crown court due to their seriousness. His counsel Simon Gurney however stated that “not guilty pleas are indicated to all offences”.
In Hatton’s case, the charge of bribery alleges that he bribed Andrew Barr between November 8 2013 and November 12 2020. The second count of misconduct in a public office meanwhile accuses him of “counselling or procuring” his wife Sonjia Hatton “to wilfully misconduct herself by providing confidential Liverpool City Council information in relation to matters of commercial and business use” to his “contacts and his business dealings”.
Derek Hatton and wife Sonjia arriving at Preston Magistrates’ Court
Hatton pleaded not guilty to the former but was not asked to enter a plea to the latter. His counsel Simon Driver added: “Mr Hatton indicates an intention to plead not guilty to both charges.”
Kavanagh, of Rookery Drive in Mossley Hill, denied two counts of bribery. Both state that he “requested, agreed to receive or accepted a bribe, financial or other advantage” in order to “perform improperly”, with one charge relating to the dates between March 19 2015 and September 3 2020 and the other concerning November 9 2015 to May 13 2019.
Barr, of Kendal Way in Ainsdale, has been charged with bribery and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. The former count similarly accuses him of “requesting, agreeing to receive or accepting a bribe, financial or other advantage” in order to “perform improperly” between November 8 2013 and November 12 2020.
Andrew Barr arriving at Preston Magistrates’ Court
The conspiracy charge alleges that, between February 2 2016 and December 3 2020, he “conspired with Joe and David Anderson to grant and arrange privileged special access” to the Mayor “for commercial or business purposes, including in a manner of benefit to David Anderson and his company SSC”. Barr was not asked to enter any pleas, with his barrister Mark Rhind KC telling the court: “There will be a not guilty indication.”
Both Julian Flanagan, aged 53 and of Tithebarn Road in Knowsley Village, and Paul Flanagan, aged 61 and of Ormskirk Road in Knowsley Village, each face a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery. This alleges that they “conspired together to bribe Nick Kavanagh and Philippa Cook” between November 9 2015 and May 13 2019, with neither being asked to enter pleas to the indictable only offence.
David Anderson, aged 37 and of Wincanton Street in Wavertree, is accused of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. Again, this charge alleges that, between February 2 2016 and December 3 2020, he “conspired with Joe Anderson and Andrew Barr to grant and arrange privileged special access” to the Mayor “for commercial or business purposes, including in a manner of benefit” to himself and his company SSC, with the court being given an “indication of a not guilty plea in due course at the crown court”.
Staff Picture: Andy Stenning Daily Mirror/Reach plc
Liverpool councillors and former politicians at Preston Magistrates on Bribery and misconduct charges 1st appearance. David Anderson
Phillipa Cook, aged 49 and of Rookery Drive in Mossley Hill, pleaded not guilty to two counts of bribery. These relate to accusations of “requesting, agreeing to receive or accepting a bribe”, with one charge relating to the period of March 19 2015 to September 3 2020 and the other concerning November 9 2015 to May 13 2019.
Alex Croft, of Formby Lane in Aughton, West Lancashire, denied one count of bribery. The 30-year-old is accused of “requesting, agreeing to receive or accepting a bribe, financial or other advantage” in order to “perform improperly”.
Sonjia Hatton, of Livingston Drive in Aigburth, is charged with misconduct in a public office. This alleges that, between October 31 2017 and January 26 2020, she “provided and sought confidential Liverpool City Council information in relation to matters of commercial and business use to Derek Hatton’s contacts and to his business dealings”.
The 49-year-old was not asked to enter a plea. However, her counsel Charlotte Godber stated that there was “an indication of not guilty” in relation to the count.
Adam McLean, of Acrefield Road in Woolton, faces an allegation of conspiracy to commit bribery, which states that he “conspired with Mark Doyle to bribe Nicholas Kavanagh and Philippa Cook” between March 19, 2015 and September 30, 2020. The 54-year-old was not asked to enter a plea to this charge.
Adam McLean leaving Preston Magistrates Court.(Pic Andrew Teebay).
James Shalliker, of School Lane in Downholland, West Lancashire, also faced a single count of conspiracy to commit bribery. The 38-year-old was not asked to enter a plea to this charge, which similarly alleged that he “conspired with Mark Doyle to bribe Nicholas Kavanagh and Philippa Cook” between March 19 2015 and September 3 2020.
All 12 spoke to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth during a hearing which lasted around an hour-and-a-half in total, with their cases being dealt with in three stages and Kavanagh, Cook, Paul and Julian Flanagan, Shalliker and Croft appearing remotely via video link. They were released on unconditional bail until today’s date by District Judge Wendy Lloyd.
Mr Rhind added in relation his client: “Mr Barr is due to be abroad at that time. He anticipates that he will be able to move that trip. He hopes he can move it. If it proves to be impossible, we will liaise with the crown court.”
Operation Aloft was launched in 2019 in order to investigate the awarding of development contracts in the city. A number of high profile arrests were made as part of the probe.
This included then sitting Mayor Joe Anderson being held by police in December 2020. He had been seeking a third term in office at this time, but was instead suspended by the Labour Party and stood down from his position.
Speaking to journalists outside the court building, he said: “Police pulled up and stormed into my house at 7 o’clock in the morning. I’ve cooperated with the police since day one. I’ve provided them with information, I’ve answered every question that they’ve put to me. It’s been four and a half years of hell waiting to get to this stage.
Joe Anderson speaking to the media outside Preston Magistrates’ Court. (Pic Andrew Teebay).(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
“I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve now got to the stage where a crown court hearing will be heard, where people can actually get to see all of the evidence and what I’ve been accused of. I’ve defended myself and protested my innocence from day one. I will continue to do so because I have done nothing wrong.
“I’ve always put the city of Liverpool and its people first and will always continue to do so. I look forward to getting the opportunity to go to court and actually clear my name. I can’t comment on the things that have been said because it’s a live case and thank you.”
A council spokesman meanwhile said at the time of the charges last month: “Liverpool City Council has actively supported this police investigation and will continue to cooperate as required. Since 2020, the council has been transformed under new leadership, including the successful conclusion of a period of government intervention, with significant improvements in governance and performance. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”