HIGH-FI AUCTION

Star Wars and movie memorabilia seized from drugs kingpin go under the hammer 4,425

IN an auction house not far, far away sci-fi memorabilia spanning light years of TV and film classics is to go under the hammer.

Interest from across the galaxy is expected in the Ulster sale of items from a life-sized Terminator and Stormtrooper to a Batman speed boat and Back To The Future car.

Wilson’s Auctions will host the sale of materials which were confiscated from a drugs kingpin who was caught growing cannabis in a nuclear bunker.

Martin Fillery, 46, was jailed in August for his part in what was called the “largest cannabis factory to be found in the south of England”.

Police found 4,425 plants at all stages of production as well as 6,500 used plants valued at £1.25million at the former nuclear shelter in Wiltshire.

Fillery’s sci-fi collection is being auctioned off as part of Wilson’s Unreserved Government Auctions which see proceeds of crime assets flogged and the money going back to the Treasury.

The event, in Mallusk, near Belfast, on October 26 will attract interest from all over the world thanks to the company’s online bidding facility Livebid.

And with no reserve, all items will be “sold as seen” to the highest bidder. Wilson’s spokesman Aidan Larkin said : “We are delighted to have been instructed to manage the disposal of a large number of movie memorabilia items including vehicles, props, merchandise and much more.

“October’s Unreserved Government Auction will be an Aladdin’s cave of memorabilia and collectibles, all with no reserve.

“The auction will appeal to a worldwide audience from the avid collector to the casual buyer.” Other models set to be sold include an ewok, a cyberman, a Willy Wonka figure (depicting Gene Wilder’s famous role), E.T., a Mini-me from Austin Powers and an evil Mogwai from the Gremlins films.

Also included is the actual screenused BMW 6-series car from Back to the Future II (Giff ’s hovering car).

Among the vehicles up for grabs are a 1960’s replica Batboat, based on a Glastron powerboat, the Blues Brothers’ Bluesmobile and Del Boy Trotter’s three-wheeled Reliant Regal.

For more details visit www.wilsonsauctions.com.

Cannabis plants were seized from Martin Fillery’s drug bunker

OUT OF THIS WORLD Movie memorabilia at Wilson’s Auctions in Mallusk, Co Antrim GAME CHANGER Arcade machines FEELING THE FORCE Star Wars characters among seized models

HIGH CRIMES Martin Fillery and nuke bunker of drugs