Conman linked to drug cash suspect
Charity conman Tony Freeman has been linked to a developer accused of laundering money for drugs gangs.
In 2006, Freeman was jailed for 18 months at the High Court in Glasgow for defrauding his own fundraising firm of £450,000 days before it went bust.
He was a consultant to property firm Pinnacle Alliance, who had planned to build 344 luxury flats in Manchester.
The project’s builders, PHD1 – who went into administration last year – once described Liverpool property magnate Peter McInnes as their chairman.
And last year, McInnes, 48, was accused of money laundering during a proceeds of crime case against Stephen and Peter Clarke – who headed up an organised crime group and were jailed for a total of 26 years in 2013.
Preston Crown Court heard that McInnes owned half of a firm run by Stephen Clarke and set up another firm with Anthony Quigley, who is due to be sentenced for his role in a heroin plot.
McInnes denied having business dealings with Freeman and his spokesman said: “The allegations during confiscation proceedings were made when he was not present and was unable to respond.”
Police are looking into the Angelgate flats project after 70 investors claimed they were defrauded out of cash.
Pinnacle Alliance said: “Mr McInnes has no involvement in Angelgate.”