Ex-Liverpool mayor to stand trial next year

Joe Anderson (left) said after a previous hearing he wanted to clear his name

Former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson and 11 others accused as part of a council corruption investigation will go on trial next year.

Mr Anderson, his son David, former politician Derek Hatton, Mr Hatton's wife Sonjia, and former Liverpool Council highways manager Andy Barr are to be tried at Preston Crown Court in October 2026.

Mr Anderson was charged with offences including bribery and misconduct in a public office following an investigation into the award of commercial and business contracts by Liverpool Council.

A second trial of five other defendants, and a third trial of one defendant, will also take place next year, Preston Crown Court heard earlier.

Mr Anderson, of Knotty Ash in Liverpool, is also charged with sending or arranging to send "threatening letters" to himself, and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

The 67-year-old, who was leader of the council and then directly elected mayor between 2010 and 2018, is also accused of conspiring with his son, David, 37, and 51-year-old Mr Barr to arrange special access in a manner to benefit David Anderson and his company, Safety Support Consultancy (SSC).

Derek Hatton and his wife Sonjia Hatton will also go on trial in October 2026

Mr Anderson was not asked to enter pleas to the charges at the hearing earlier.

David Anderson, of Wavertree, Liverpool, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

Mr Barr, of Ainsdale, Merseyside, did not enter pleas to the charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and bribery.

Mr Hatton, of Aigburth, Liverpool, who was deputy council leader and part of Labour's militant faction in the 1980s, pleaded not guilty to offering a bribe.

The 77-year-old, wearing a pale blue suit, is also charged with counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office, but did not enter a plea to the charge.

Mrs Hatton, 49, of Aigburth, did not enter a plea to a charge of misconduct in a public office.

She is accused of providing and seeking confidential council information over matters of commercial and business use to Mr Hatton's contacts, and to his business dealings.

The five defendants are due to stand trial on 5 October 2026, with the case estimated to last 15 weeks.

David Anderson will be in the dock alongside his father, former mayor Joe Anderson

Former council regeneration boss Nick Kavanagh, his wife Philippa Cook, Paul Flanagan, Julian Flanagan, James Shalliker, and Adam McClean, will be tried in February next year.

Mr Kavanagh, 56, and Ms Cook, 49, both of Mossley Hill, Liverpool, pleaded not guilty to two counts of accepting a bribe.

Julian Flanagan, 53, and Paul Flanagan, 71, both of Knowsley, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to bribe.

They are alleged to have conspired with each other to bribe Mr Kavanagh and Mrs Cook between November 2015 and September 2020 by giving them financial or other advantage, including building, decoration or maintenance work, in return for improper performance by Kavanagh in his employment by the council.

Mr Shalliker, 38, of Downholland, Lancashire, and Mr McClean, 54, of Woolton, are both alleged to have conspired with another man, Mark Doyle, to bribe Mr Kavanagh and Mrs Cook with cash, the use of storage, vehicles or vehicle parts, and building work.

Both pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to bribe.

A trial of the six defendants was fixed for 23 February 2026.

It is expected to last about 12 weeks.

Alexander Croft, 30, of Aughton, Lancashire, pleaded not guilty to one count of offering a bribe and will stand trial on 6 July 2026.

Honorary Recorder of Preston Judge Robert Altham granted all of the defendants bail.