Lawyer ‘participated in conspiracy’ over Whyte’s purchase of Rangers

A LAWYER participated in a “conspiracy” with Craig Whyte before doing “a runner”, administrators alleged at the High Court yesterday.

Gary Withey offered advice when Mr Whyte was trying to acquire a majority share in Rangers in 2011, said a lawyer representing Duff & Phelps.

It became clear “something was seriously wrong” after Mr Withey resigned from London solicitors Collyer Bristow earlier this year, Mark Phillips QC, told Mr Justice Arnold.

Administrators are suing Collyer Bristow for around £25 million damages on Rangers’ behalf. They allege “conspiracy” and negligence.

Collyer Bristow has yet to outline any detailed defence to the allegations. Mr Phillips told the court at yesterday’s pre-trial hearing that there was “no evidence to implicate anybody else” but Mr Withey.

Mr Phillips outlined a “peculiar situation” in a written statement given to the judge at yesterday’s hearing.

He said Mr Whyte was seeking to acquire a majority share in Rangers in the name of his company, the Rangers FC Group, in early 2011. Collyer Bristow had acted as its solicitors and Mr Withey was the member of Collyer Bristow who dealt with its involvement in the takeover, said Mr Phillips.

Mr Whyte had said his firm would pay more than £9m, including £5m to buy players, to be held by Collyer Bristow for Rangers’ “benefit”. But Mr Phillips said Mr Whyte’s “representations” were “false”.

“The Rangers FC Group had no ability to provide the necessary funds and no intention of providing them,” he said in the statement. “Mr Withey was privy to Mr Whyte’s deception and participated in the conspiracy.”