A GRAPPENHALL man who admitted being the mastermind behind a £100 million cocaine ring has now tried to play down his role in the drugs plot by claiming he only worked as an 'introducer'.

Richard Brookhouse, who is currently serving 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to his part in the conspiracy in February 2014, had previously admitted working as the 'controlling mind' in setting up the drugs' smuggling operation.

But during a hearing at Warrington Crown Court today, Friday, Brookhouse denied he was the ringleader of the regime.

Instead, he said he was given an 'invitation' into the conspiracy by a friend he had met in prison, Carl Wall.

Brookhouse then facilitated a meeting between Wall and Andrew Wilde - who are both currently serving lengthy stints in custody for their role in the drugs plot.

The group were arrested as part of Operation Redbank which focused its attention on the activity of Brookhouse who was a serving prisoner at HMP Kirkham at the time in 2012.

He was serving a 22-year prison sentence after admitting his role in 2003 to a drugs importation plot.

Brookhouse was on day release as part of his rehabilitation plan but during this time he was meeting with known drug dealers, members of organised crime gangs and high profile criminals he met in prison.

Brookhouse assisted by his wife Diane travelled around the north west to carry out these meetings.

But on April 6, 2012, two drugs couriers were stopped in Essex as part of their role in the drugs plot.

They were found with 78kg of cocaine and 2kg of heroine which they had smuggled into the country under the false pretences that they had travelled to France on a fishing trip.

The drugs had a street value of £15m.

Following the seizure all the main culprits in the gang were arrested and it was revealed that group had been involved in seven importations of drugs to the UK.

A total of 23 people were convicted as part of their involvement in the drugs plot.

A three-week hearing is currently taking place at Warrington Crown Court to seize assets belonging to those involved under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Earlier this week it was agreed that Brookhouse's wife Diane would have to pay back £1,090 of the £75,000 figure she is believed to have enjoyed by helping to run her husband's drugs importation plot.

This figures is expectedly to be significantly higher for Richard Brookhouse after he accepted full responsibility to the crimes.

Prosecuting, Martin Read said: "If all Mr Brookhouse was doing was providing introductions the court may question why his continued involvement was necessary and why his continued payment from the co-conspirators was necessary.

"The contact with others was considerable and the amount of it and the timings before, after and during.

"The fishing trips suggest his continued involvement was necessary and that he must have gained far more than that of an introducer."

But during evidence, Brookhouse said many of the phone conversations between co-conspirators were coincidental chats between friends and that he was only paid £500 a kilo – this equated to £32,500.

This money was payment for introducing Wall to Wilde and he spent this cash on presents for his children and wife and clothes for himself, Brookhouse claimed.

When asked about why he was kept up-to-date with the weight of the smuggled goods if he was only acting as an introducer, he claimed he was 'just being nosey'.

He also claimed he did not know the amount of drugs that were being brought into the UK so he was unclear if his involvement was worth the risk.

Martin Read added: "It could have been a low as four kilogrammes. You were prepared to take the risk that you took without really knowing what you would get out of it?"

Brookhouse said: "I was stupid I should never have got involved in what I was involved in."

The hearing continues.

RICHARD Brookhouse has lifted the lid on the mechanics of setting up the importation of drugs to the UK.

He told the court how a wholesaler would make contact with known suppliers in Spain or Holland.

In 2012, a kilo of cocaine at 60 per cent purity could be bought from mainland Europe for around £24,000 to £26,000, which would be paid upfront.

It could then be sold in the UK for around £40,000 to £42,000 a kilo.

Drugs couriers would charge around £2,000 per kilo to transport the drugs from mainland Europe to the UK.

In this conspiracy, transporters would masquerade as heading out on a fishing trip and would return via a coach.

Those involved would then pay a driver to pick up the supply from the transporter for around £500.