A JURY has retired to consider its verdict in a trial about an alleged conspiracy to bring cocaine into Worcester.

The jury of seven women and five women retired on Monday afternoon.

The trial at Worcester Crown Court began in early October.

The case against the nine defendants involved police surveillance, including bugging one of the defendant's vans, the seizure and analysis of mobile phones including alleged 'dirty' mobile phones, and financial evidence such as receipts which the prosecution say shows how the alleged proceeds of the conspiracy were spent on luxury items.

Lee Bryant, aged 49, of Selborne Road West, Barbourne, Worcester; David Warren, aged 41, of Grasmere Drive, Warndon, Worcester; Ashley James, aged 31, of Cherington Close, Worcester; Deborah Crowther, aged 50; Todd Porter, aged 31 and Tiffany Porter, aged 21, all of Hollymount Road, Tolladine, Worcester; James Jones, aged 42, of Tolladine Road, Worcester and Liam Pearson, aged 51, of Aylton Road, Liverpool deny conspiracy to supply cocaine between September 6, 2011, and October 6, 2015.

Warren also denies transferring criminal property, either drugs or money, in April 2015.

James, 31, and partner Elizabeth Cottle, aged 25, of Cherington Close, Worcester, deny conspiracy to conceal criminal property between 2011 and 2015.

James also denies conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in October 2015.

Judge Robert Juckes QC spent the day summing up the evidence for the jury.

James Jones served a seven year sentence for the supply of cocaine ten years ago. Porter gave evidence but was never cross-examined by the prosecution. His fingerprints were found on three of the bags associated either with cocaine or cash but so were other fingerprints the court heard. He also had no previous convictions for drugs offences.

During the case a drugs list was also discussed, written by Chris Cornes who has already admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

The prosecution say that, though no mention of cocaine was made in the list, the values on the ledger suggested cocaine, £1,800 being the approximate value of an ounce of the class A drug. However, the defence cases say this referred instead to 1kg of DMC, a drug not then illegal, not cocaine.

The prosecution case is that Pearson was the courier who brought cocaine into Worcester from Liverpool in the early hours of June 23, 2015 and returned with close to £30,000 in cash before police stopped him on the M6 returning north. Pearson's defence was that he was picking up cash from the sale of cars on behalf of a man named John Moorcroft who has never been traced.

A 'dirty phone' found in Pearson's Ford Galaxy must also have been Mr Moorcroft's, Pearson said.

Both Pearson and Bryant say their meeting in Selborne Road West in Worcester was 'chance' and that Bryant had merely been attempting to help 'a lost Scouser'.

Pearson said previous trips to the Worcester area had been to meet his brother, who lived in Swindon, 'halfway' and to pick up heirlooms to take back to Liverpool following his mother's death

Tiffany Porter was said by judge Juckes to have 'very limited involvement', the evidence limited to a single conversation. She is of good character with no previous convictions.

The prosecution has also alleged Ashley James and partner Elizabeth Cottle spent the proceeds from dealing cocaine on holidays in Barbados, luxury hotel stays, jewellery, the hire purchase of cars and dental work for James. Some of the holidays, including £6,000 for a a trip to Barbados were paid for in cash by James.

Warren claimed trips up to Liverpool were to see family and for boxing, including watching his nephew's professional debut and nothing to do with cocaine.