The brother of a detective accused of making thousands of pounds from drugs stolen from police seizures told a jury he was only the “delivery boy” for his brother’s illicit steroid business and had never been involved with more serious drugs.
Simon McFadden told Leeds Crown Court he had started by helping his policeman brother Nicholas with the supply of protein powders and other legal substances used by body builders.
Later he discovered his brother had extended his enterprise into dealing in steroids. He considered that a grey area legally and did not see any harm in it and accepted his share of the proceeds.
He told the jury he also began his own sideline dealing in Viagra and made some profit from that.
The prosecution claim the brothers made up to £600,000 by putting back on to the streets cocaine, cannabis resin, heroin and amphetamine seized by the Organised Crime Group where Nicholas McFadden was a detective constable.
Nicholas McFadden said in evidence he did not steal the drugs but made money from his steroid business and found a drug dealer’s secret stash of up to £500,000 in a house in Harehills, Leeds.
Simon McFadden was asked by his counsel Peter Moulson QC “You obviously had money from your criminal enterprise in dealing with steroids have you ever been involved in supplying cocaine?”
“No,” he replied, giving the same response when asked about supplying cannabis resin, heroin and amphetamine.
He agreed he had told police that his brother Nicholas gave him £30,000 cash and now accepted that it was in fact more than that, but said he was told by his brother it came from remortgaging a house.
He said it was only after Nicholas was arrested then bailed and came to stay with him that his brother told him about finding the money giving no other details.
“He was an absolute mess at the time, he very rarely spoke, he didn’t eat.”
Under cross-examination by Jason Pitter prosecuting, Simon McFadden said “I was a delivery boy.”
Nicholas McFadden, 38, then of Pasture Drive, Castleford denies four charges of theft and four of conspiracy to supply drugs. Simon McFadden, 41 of Darfield Place, Harehills, Leeds denies four charges of conspiracy to supply and one of money laundering.
The trial continues next week.