Crime Enforcer Arrested for Contract to Kill Two Rent Boys

Rent boy: Ciaron Dodd says Flowers paid him for debauched sex and drug sessions

An underworld crime enforcer has been arrested on suspicion of threatening to kidnap two rent boys involved in the Rev Paul Flowers scandal.

The gangster, 29, is accused of sending terrifying texts to one of the escorts used by the shamed Co-op Bank chief.

Police swooped on the man – linked to a notorious crime family in the North – after one rent boy, 31, reported the threats.

There is no evidence to suggest that the enforcer was working on behalf of 63-year-old Flowers, but police are investigating.

The 31-year-old and Ciaron Dodd, 21, both claimed­ Methodist minister Flowers paid them £650 a night for drug-fuelled sex.

A source close to the enforcer said: “He is a hired hardman that will do anything for cash. He is a bodyguard to a famous crime family. I wouldn’t put anything past him to be honest.

“When he was bailed he was told he was not to go near the two lads and has been barred from entering Manchester’s Gay Village or Stockport.”

The enforcer was bailed in the early hours of yesterday morning from Swinton Police Station, Greater Manchester.

Shamed: Rev Paul Flowers 

Flowers, who quit his £130,000 role as chairman of the struggling Co-operative Bank in June over claims about his expenses, was arrested this week over ­allegations he tried to buy drugs. It came after images emerged of him allegedly handing over cash for crystal meth after a ­newspaper sting. He was bailed and is thought to be staying with friends.

Dodd told how he had met with Flowers in plush hotel rooms paid for by the bank. He also produced messages sent from Flowers from his work email account in which he reportedly organised drug-fuelled threesomes.

Dodd said: “I knew what he did for a living and couldn’t believe how debauched he was.

“Every time he saw me he knew he was risking everything – but he just didn’t seem to care. He took me to the theatre and gave me presents like chocolate and wine.

"I was old enough to be his grandson but he didn’t think we looked like the odd couple.”

One email to the rent boy states: “Been waiting for you to come and have some coke and k ­(ketamine) with me. P x.”

The 31-year-old escort also said Flowers often talked about his work. He revealed: “He said there was going to be an announcement about how a deal with Lloyds TSB had fallen through. A few days later I heard it on the news.”

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “On Friday a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap.

“Enquiries into the nature of the threats are ongoing.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gang