A man who claimed to be a low-income manager of a shop had his drug dealer world brought down as police hunted for cop killer Dale Cregan. Billy Black told His Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) he'd earned just £1,985 over an eight year period, but he managed to extend his home in Droylsden, Greater Manchester . He also flashed his Rolex watch, 60 inch TV and owned a luxury caravan at Prestatyn while driving around in a plush Mercedes CLK 200 soft-top sports car.
In fact, Black owned a £28 million property empire financed by his drug dealing. The 28 rental homes he owned across Manchester laundered the cash he brought in from dealing, the Manchester Evening News reported. But it was to be the exploits of a fellow criminal that brought his plush existence crashing down.
In May 2012, Cregan had slaughtered rivals Mark Short, 23, and his father David Short, 46, in Droyslden in a pair of terrifying gun and grenade gangland hits. During the search for Cregan, cops searched for him in Black’s home, but there was no sign of him. Suspicions were raised, however, when police spotted the oak parquet flooring throughout the house.
Rolex watches and jewellery worth £120,000 were hidden under a wardrobe. One Rolex alone was valued at £23,000 and brazen Black even told detectives: "Be careful. That one's worth £23,000.
Look after them. I'll be wanting them back after the trial." Black’s girlfriend had a £16,800 watch on her wrist, while there was even a further £12,000 stashed .