S I T TI BI

COMITUM

SANCTA COMORS

Registered at the Post Office as a Newspaper Est. 1893

INCORPORATED WITH THE CONGLETON AND MACCLESFIELD MERCURY

THURSDAY, 4th NOVEMBER, 2010.

Price 55p

INSIDE: OUR COMPREHENSIVE PROPERTY GUIDE FEATURING LOCAL ESTATE AGENTS

Duped dealer buys back fake

Learners driven out Readers'ViewsPages22-25 Page 28

Page 11

What’s on... What’s gone...

Pages 18-21

Greenfield land 'at risk'

Page 13

Jailed drug man gives evidence against old pal

What a spook-tacular smile

A jailed drug dealer claimed in court that a Bosley businessman had helped him launder the proceeds of crime.

Paul Pedley, (44), currently serving a fouryear sentence for drug dealing, was called on Tuesday as witness in the trial of his former friend, Paul Wedgbury.

to the court before his 2009 sentencing to hide the arrangement, even creating a fictional drug dealer called “Mr Brown” as a cover.

The jury was told that Pedley would give money he made from drug dealing to Wedgbury, who would then return the money to Pedley via cheques to make his income seem “legitimate.”

At his Chester Crown Court trial on Monday, Wedgbury, (40), of Old School House, Bosley, denied entering into a money laundering arrangement between October 2004 and ovember 2008. On the second day of the trial, the jury heard from Pedley, the main witness. He admitted lying

Pedley told the jury that as well as the cheques, Wedgbury “employed” him at his business, Macclesfieldbased Cheshire Motorcycle Salvage. Despite receiving a monthly wage, Pedley denied ever working for the company, and that the job was merely another front for the money laundering.

Pedley was sent to prison for three years for dealing in July 2003, and also ordered to pay over £177,000 in proceeds of

20A, MILL STREET, CONGLETON.

crime.

Upon Pedley’s release in 2004, Wedgbury gave Pedley a cheque for £6,000, and when Pedley decided to move house with his wife, Michelle, he gave her a £10,000 cheque to go towards the deposit on a property in Biddulph, shortly after receiving two £5,000 cash payments into his own bank account. In November 2008 he paid £6,000 to Pedley’s solicitors, Tuckers.

Sion Ap Mihangel, prosecuting, said Wedgbury “knew what was taking place” when he was accepting the money. He added: “This was a sophisticated arrangement between two men. They laundered drug money in various ways, all in full knowledge of where the money had come from. It was an attempt to give this money an air of legitimacy.

• —Turn to back page.

Little pumpkin Ben McDermott poses with his Hallowe’en Jack-o-lantern at Cheekies Private Day Nursery. It was all treats and no tricks for children and staff at the Chain and Gate nursery, North Rode, as they donned fancy dress and indulged in all manner of ghostly goings on. For more photos, turn to the back page. (“Chronicle” photo. 4408d/10).

Make Mercians’ visit ‘a truly memorable’ event

Soldiers just back from Afghanistan have been told by Congleton’s dignitaries to expect a rapturous welcome when they march through the town on Wednesday.

The First Battalion the Mercian (Cheshire) Regiment, which recruits from this area, wanted to parade through Congleton as a way of thanking its people for their support during its six-month tour of duty.

Twelve of its troops were killed in Helmand province and 88 were injured.

Around 750 servicemen and women will receive Operational Tour Medals outside Congleton Town Hall during their visit.

Cheshire East’s Mayor Coun Gordon Baxendale spoke this week of his excitement ahead of the landmark occasion.

“The last medal ceremony of this sort had the Queen presenting the medals so that tells you what an honour it is for the town.

“I’m sure people will turn out in their droves to thank the troops and make it a truly memorable occasion.”

Congleton Town Mayor David Brown added: “I know that most of the schools are sending people down and I’m sure many people will get away from work for a couple of hours to make it to the parade route.”

Shops are being encouraged to display bunting for the troops and well-wishers will be waving flags as the soldiers pass by.

See page 5 for parade route details.

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