Web of drug crime that ended in doorstep shooting

Brothers supplied vast quantities of narcotics to gangs across the UK

- DAMON WILKINSON, PATRICK EDRICH

SHE was the mysterious underworld accountant known only as 'The Banker'. But when cocaine kingpin John Tobin fell into her debt, it kick-started a violent chain of events that led to the drug dealer being shot on his own doorstep. John and his brother Alan supplied hundreds of kilos of narcotics to notorious gangs across the UK. Backed up by ex-UFC star Robbie 'The Bear' Broughton as their 'enforcer', the brothers enjoyed "lavish lifestyles" thanks to the misery of others. But their drug empire came crashing down after police intercepted a van ferrying £20m of cocaine up the M6.

Losing the huge 90% consignment led to John being shot over debts to 'The Banker'. The desperate brothers would go on to hatch a brutal plot to have a dad and son shot on their doorsteps by gunmen disguised as pizza delivery drivers.

And Alan conspired with an alleged Manchester gangland boss to get another enemy 'carved up' in prison. The two men had dreamed of making millions from their illicit business. However, they would find themselves in conflict involving some of the north west's biggest gangland figures.

The two men's business was described as 'sophisticated, highly profitable and well-organised'. They supplied vast amounts of cocaine, heroin, ketamine and cannabis to gangs across a network that stretched across the UK. Older brother Alan, who had previously worked in a number of manual jobs, used the veneer of his job as a respected mental health nurse - based at Rathbone mental health hospital's low secure unit, to mask his criminal involvement.