A MAN has denied being involved in a large-scale plot to supply cocaine.

Paul Robinson, of Hardman Close, Radcliffe, was seen having three meetings with another conspirator, Warren Cox, who was later caught red-handed adulterating blocks of cocaine, a jury at Liverpool Crown Court has been told.

Cox ,and Anne Marie O'Connor (41), at whose Leigh home he was caught, have both admitted their illegal roles, but 44-year-old Robinson has pleaded not guilty to plotting to supply cocaine, said Robert Altham, prosecuting.

When police raided O'Connor's home on April 15 last year they found cocaine which was being "cut" and which would have been bulked up to a total weight of more than one and a half kilos.

"The price of this in gram deals in the clubs and streets of Manchester would have been between £55,000 and £95,000," he alleged.

"It was no coincidence that the police raided that house that day. They had been watching Cox and his associates since the autumn of 2003.

"Robinson's part in this matter was very straightforward but vital to the enterprise. He supplied cocaine to the conspiracy, in effect he was one up the supply chain from Cox," claimed Mr Altham.

In the two or so weeks before the police raid, Robinson had three "highly suspicious" meetings with 38-year-old Cox, who Mr Altham described as "the main player in the conspiracy".

The first meeting on March 29 in McDonald's car park in Whitefield lasted just three minutes and a meeting at the same location the next day also only lasted a few minutes.

On April 7 there was a further meeting at the same car park and this time two other men, Michael Redfern (23) and Andrew Creighton (34), were also present.

That meeting was for Robinson to hand cocaine to Cox and for Cox to hand money over to Robinson, alleged Mr Altham.

When Robinson's home was searched on April 26, officers found more than £20,000 stashed in a wall.

When interviewed by police, Robinson was evasive and tried to minimise his acquaintance with Cox. He claimed the cash found in the wall was from the sale of a house and a legacy.

Mr Altham claimed that his explanation did not bear real scrutiny and his lifestyle "is very hard to explain for a man whose only real income is supposed to be just over £100 per week benefit and who has been in receipt of incapacity benefit since June, 1998."

Cox, from Leigh, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine; Redfern, from Lowton, has admitted being concerned in supplying; O'Connor has pleaded guilty to allowing her house to be used for the production of drugs; and Creighton, also from Leigh, has admitted drug supplying.

Proceeding