A man involved in a long-running business dispute with former Olympic show jumper Harvey Smith faced a string of charges when he appeared in Court on Tuesday.

Peter Snowden, 50, of Upper Hird Street, Keighley, was accused of offences ranging from attempting to gain property by deception to soliciting murder.

Snowden was part of a racing syndicate involving Mr Smith and he has been embroiled in a bitter business dispute for which civil legal action is pending.

On Tuesday he pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to obtaining property by deception - namely NatWest bank statements belonging to Dorothy Wheeler, who was also involved in the syndicate - in May 1996.

Snowden also admitted attempting to obtain property by deception, involving bank statements belonging to Brian and Dorothy Wheeler, and two charges of incitement to commit burglary at two addresses in Keighley.

He denied issuing threats to kill against six people, including Mr Smith and Keith Hellawell, former Chief Constable of West Yorkshire and Tony Blair's current drugs tsar.

He further denied soliciting to murder six people and a charge of incitement to commit grievous bodily harm.

Michael Smith, for the prosecution, said the Crown Prosecution Service would be happy to let these charges lie on file.

The case was adjourned and the judge Mr Justice Humphrey-Potts requested a pre-sentence report. Snowden was remanded in custody until sentencing, expected in a fortnight.

A civil case against Harvey Smith is due to be heard in court early next month.

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