A former Bradford Bulls rugby league player is on trial accused of storing and delivering cash for his drug dealer father-in-law.

George Flanagan, 22, who played as a hooker, and Anthony Carver, 39, today denied conspiracy to supply class A drugs between July 1 and December 2 last year.

The Court heard that seven men, including Flanagan’s father-in-law Mark Davey, have pleaded guilty to plotting to deal in cocaine and heroin.

Prosecutor David Gordon told the jury at Bradford Crown Court Davey was head of a drugs merchandising operation involving big money and large amounts of class A drugs. Mr Gordon said Davey, 42, of Maple Avenue, Thornbury, Bradford, obtained wholesale supplies of drugs from across the Pennines to sell on in the Bradford area.

In February 2001 Davey was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Mr Gordon told the jury Davey was dealing again within months, or even weeks, of being freed from jail on licence on January 28 last year.

The court heard that West Yorkshire Police’s drugs and organised crime group mounted Operation Accomplish to investigate large-scale drug dealing and money laundering.

Davey was the main target and undercover officers began following him.

Mr Gordon said on November 4, Davey drove his Range Rover to the Furnace Inn, Bowling Back Lane, Bradford. The Crown say he met Peter Atherton, a BT employee who had almost certainly ferried drugs from Merseyside in his van. It is alleged Flanagan brought a carrier bag of cash to the pub for Davey to pay Atherton.

When Atherton was stopped by police on the westbound M62 that evening, £147,355 in banknotes was found in bundles and bags in his BT van.

Mr Gordon said 13 fingerprints belonging to Carver, of The Clearings, Leeds, were found on bags seized. A Next bag containing £37,455 bore Flanagan’s fingerprint, it is alleged.

On December 1, Flanagan’s home in Maple Avenue, next door to Davey’s, was searched. Both men were arrested.

Mr Gordon said £20,000 was recovered, half from a safe in a kitchen cupboard.

Flanagan told police he had never touched drugs. He said he had no business dealings with his father-in-law except for storing his money in the safe. He said he never questioned Davey about the money, thinking he had learned his lesson.

The trial continues.