Footballer ‘kept watch’ at drugs meeting

FORMER Scotland footballer Frank McAvennie was seen “keeping watch” during a drugs surveillance operation, it was claimed yesterday.

The ex-Celtic and West Ham striker kept gazing around a busy rail station as two suspected drug dealers greeted each other, it was alleged. Detective Constable Kenneth Dale, 43, of the national police crime squad, said he saw Mr McAvennie, 40, at Newcastle Central Station along with Michael Edwards, 40.

He told the High Court in Glasgow they were joined by Vincent Wallace, 43, and all three then drove off in a car.

Wallace, of Netherhouse Place, Easterhouse, Glasgow, denies dealing in ecstasy and amphetamine and possessing cocaine said to be worth over 100,000.

Mr Dale told how with other officers he followed the suspect car to the Hawksley area of Newcastle where Edwards collected a package from a house. All three men, with Edwards driving and Mr McAvennie in the back seat, then travelled back into the city centre.

Questioned by Mr Paul McBride, QC, defending, Mr Dale, agreed that Mr McAvennie had later been found not guilty of conspiring to supply ecstasy and amphetamine.

The offences are alleged to have happened in Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and at Wallace’s home in Easterhouse between December l999 and 23 March, 2000. Wallace has lodged a special defence blaming Edwards. Edwards pled guilty to the charges at the a trial at Newcastle Crown Court last September.

The trial continues.