Disgraced Leeds businessman Manni Hussain's links with notorious former crime boss Dennis Slade and the downfall of a £10m property empire

Notorious former Leeds crime boss Dennis Slade stayed rent free in a luxury home belonging to the businessman who has lost his £10m property empire over his links with organised criminals.
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As part of legal proceedings against Hussain, the NCA produced evidence that Slade stayed rent free in his seven bedroom house in Sandmoor Drive.

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Following Slade’s release from prison in April last year, he also stayed rent free in a penthouse apartment owned by Hussain in Leeds city centre.

Left: One of the properties seized by the NCA and, right, Dennis SladeLeft: One of the properties seized by the NCA and, right, Dennis Slade
Left: One of the properties seized by the NCA and, right, Dennis Slade

Slade was released from prison after a conspiracy to murder conviction against him was quashed.

Slade and his two “loyal henchmen” - Richard Pearman and Michael Baxter - were released from custody nine years after they were given life sentences over a murder plot and a series of robberies.

All three men - once described as “Premier League” criminals - were found guilty following high-profile trials in 2009 and 2010.Over a three-year period their daring crimes included the robbery of a Securitas van which netted them over £1m.

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The murder conspiracy convictions were quashed in 2015 after the Court of Appeal ruled them to be unsafe and ordered a re-trial.

Prosecutors accused Slade, Pearman and Baxter of plotting to kill a rival by arranging for “assassins” to shoot him dead in the East End Park area of Leeds.

The re-trial collapsed when prosecutors took the decision to offer no evidence against the men midway through the hearing.

The decision meant the minimum terms they each had to serve in custody were significantly reduced.

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Slade’s minimum term dropped to 10 years - making him eligible to apply to the Parole Board for release on licence in March 2018.

A Parole Board panel recommended Slade’s release from jail at a hearing the following year.

He was released with strict conditions which include wearing an electronically-monitored tag.

A Parole Board summary, seen by the Yorkshire Evening Post at the time, stated: “Evidence was presented regarding successful completion of accredited programmes to address offending behaviour.

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“These courses had addressed areas including unhelpful thinking, understanding the effect of his actions upon victims, and the use of violence.

“The panel heard how well Mr Slade had demonstrated application of relevant skills and learning while in custody.

“Witnesses described good behaviour in prison, achieving trusted positions through hard work, being motivated to live an offence-free life in future, and that his risk factors and risk of future harm had been addressed through treatment programmes.

“All witnesses recommended Mr Slade’s release.”

Pearman was released from custody following a Parole Board panel hearing in July 2017.

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The Parole Board confirmed that a direction for Baxter’s release was made in 2016.

The Slade gang robbery case was “right up there” with some of the biggest investigations ever mounted by West Yorkshire Police.

In November last year Slade had more than a quarter of a million pounds confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Slade was ordered to pay back the profits of his audacious crimes which were committed over a three-year period across the north of England.

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One offence included the robbery of a Securitas van which netted Slade's gang over £1m.

Slade's confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act was finally been settled after years of delays.

Leeds Crown Court heard Slade benefitted to the sum of £267,836 as a result of his offending.

The court heard 43-year-old Slade has assets available to re-pay the sum in full.

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A confiscation order was also made in relation to Slade's former partner, Maxine Valentine.

Valentine was jailed for 12 months in 2011 after admitting to living off the proceeds of Slade's criminal conduct.

A court Valentine “flaunted” her wealth on social websites, enjoying expensive holidays abroad and shopping in designer stores.

She owned a £3,250 mobile phone and was given a pop star’s Bentley Continental for one birthday, which later had her own number plate – 30 MV.

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Valentine was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court after pleading guilty to acquiring, using or possessing property, the proceeds of criminal conduct, between April 28 2005 and March 5 2008.

Prosecutors said Valentine knew her extravagant lifestyle was funded “not through legitimately earned income but through the criminal activities of her husband.”

It was clear he did not “go out to work in the conventional sense”.

For a time they lived in Spain, but returned in early 2005, initially renting a substantial house in Harrogate for between £1,650 and £2,200 a month.

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In September 2006 they moved to the property in Sandmoor Drive, Alwoodley.

The court heard the luxurious house valued that December at £1m “was registered in the name of an associate of Dennis Slade but in truth belonged to Dennis Slade himself”,

On April 27, 2007, police first saw the £74,500 Bentley, which had previously belonged to Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay, on the driveway. The couple also had a £53,000 Porsche.

Their holidays and other extravagances over three years cost around £360,000 “but that probably only represents a small portion of the sum spent” to fund their lifestyle, said prosecutor Paul Greaney.

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Valentine's benefit figure was put at £5,987 which she was ordered to pay in full within 28 days.

The Parole Board took the decision to release Slade from custody in March this year after hearing evidence that he was "motivated to live an offence-free life."