Ex-Liverpool mayor in court over bribery charges

Former mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson indicated not guilty pleas at Preston Magistrates' Court

Former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson and city politician Derek Hatton have appeared in court and denied charges of bribery and misconduct relating to council contracts.

Among the allegations, Mr Anderson, 67, is accused of sending "threatening letters" to himself.

The charges came after a Merseyside Police investigation, Operation Aloft, focused on several property developers and the awarding of commercial and business contracts from Liverpool City Council between 2010 and 2020.

Ten others, including Mr Hatton's wife Sonjia and Mr Anderson's son David, have also been charged.

Former deputy leader of Liverpool City Council Derek Hatton and his wife Sonjia Hatton indicated not guilty pleas

Mr Anderson, of Knotty Ash in Liverpool, was elected mayor of the city from the time the role was created in 2012 until he stood aside after his arrest in 2020.

Speaking after the hearing at Preston Magistrates' Court, the former social worker said it had been "four-and-a-half years of hell waiting to get to this stage".

He said he was "absolutely delighted" the case had come to court "where people can actually get to see all of the evidence and what I've been accused of".

"I've done nothing wrong," he said, adding that he looked forward to the opportunity to "clear my name".

Mr Hatton, 77, who was deputy council leader in the 1980s, and a former director and assistant director at the local authority, also indicated not guilty pleas.

His wife Sonjia 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 - which she denies.

David Anderson, Sonjia Hatton, Andrew Barr, formerly the council's assistant director of highways and planning, also indicated not guilty pleas.

Joe Anderson's son David Anderson has been charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office

Adam McClean, 54, of Woolton, entered the dock on a charge of conspiracy to bribery, to which he entered no plea.

Other defendants appeared at court remotely via videolink and indicated not guilty pleas.

Julian Flanagan, 53, Paul Flanagan, 71, and James Shalliker, 38, who are all charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, entered no pleas.

The Flanagan brothers founded construction business the Flanagan Group.

All 12 defendants were granted unconditional bail.

They are expected to appear again at the same court on 25 April.

Here is a full list of the defendants and the charges they face:

• Joe Anderson, 67, of Knotty Ash, indicated not guilty pleas after being charged with with one count of bribery, one count of misconduct in a public office and one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office

• Derek Hatton, 77, of Aigburth, denies one count of bribery and one count of counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office

• Former Liverpool City Council director Nicholas Kavanagh, 56, of Mossley Hill, indicated not guilty pleas for two counts of bribery

• Andrew Barr, 51, of Ainsdale, charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and one count of bribery, indicated a not guilty plea

• David Anderson, 37, of Wavertree, denied a charge of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office

• Phillipa Cook, 49, of Mossley Hill, indicated not guilty pleas to two counts of bribery

• Alex Croft, 30, of Aughton, Lancashire, indicated a not guilty plea to a charge of bribery

• Julian Flanagan, 53, of Crosby, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, did not enter a plea

• Paul Flanagan, 61, of Knowsley Village, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, did not enter a plea

• Sonjia Hatton, 49, of Aigburth, indicated a not guilty plea to a charge of misconduct in a public office

• Adam McLean, 54, of Woolton, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, entered no plea

• James Shalliker, 38, of Downholland, Lancashire, charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, entered no plea