‘Yes. I’ve worked as a courier for him, regularly bringing in drugs from continental Europe, mostly on yachts and small planes. I also distributed his drugs within the UK. I’m not proud of it, but I’d had to look after my kid brother who had Down’s Syndrome. I did it to try to pay for a decent life for him. To ensure he had a decent home. So I could take him on trips, like to Florida, to Disneyworld. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I’d made a promise to our mum that I would always take care of him.’

Cork was still looking at the jury with the conviction of a man who knows he has them with him. ‘Mr Starr, you are a man whom the defendant has been claiming he has never met. Yet you say you worked as both General Manager for a company owned by him and as a courier and general fixer for him. Can you recall the last time you did meet?’

‘Yes, it was sometime before November 26th of last year.’

‘Might it have been Wednesday November 21st?’

Starr paused. ‘It might have been. If we was allowed our phones, I could tell you.’

There was a small ripple of smiles at his reply, before the court became deadly serious again.

‘Are you certain he knew it was you, yourself, who was acting in the roles of General Manager, and courier and fixer?’

There was a brief silence in which the entire court could have heard the proverbial pin drop.

‘Well, how could he not have, he’s known me all these years?’

Cork paused. ‘Mr Starr, you have yourself pleaded guilty to all six counts that Gready faces – are you aware that you face a long prison sentence for your part?’

‘Yes, I am aware.’

‘Can you fully describe the nature of your relationship with the defendant? And expand on your other responsibilities?’

‘I would say I was his lieutenant.’

‘Lieutenant?’ Cork repeated.

‘Yes, I acted for him as his eyes, ears and authority. Whilst he remained out of sight, to the whole world a good and dutiful citizen, running his law practice, I was the person both bringing in the majority of his drugs and running his county lines empire for him.’

All pleasant and calm, Cork asked him, ‘Can you tell this court just what your duties entailed – and could I ask you also to explain to the court just what exactly the extent of this so-called county lines empire was – and how it operated?’

Mickey Starr spent some time giving chapter and verse on Terence Gready’s operation.

Cork then said, ‘In summary, Mr Starr, you have told the court that you were actively involved not only in a conspiracy to import drugs but also to distribute them, and your actions have been driven by the defendant Terence Gready.’

‘That is correct, sir.’