AN underworld 'Mr Big' is being linked to the unsolved gangland murder of a Blackpool garage owner as he begins an eight-year jail term for extortion.

Jason Gillard, 32, of Calder Crescent, Whitfield, Greater Manchester, was arrested during a major police operation, and convicted of two counts of blackmail.

As a judge at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, dubbed him 'a dangerous and manipulative man' it emerged that he had strong links with the victims of two fatal shootings, both of which remain unsolved.

In November 199, Alan Rosser, 34, was shot dead at his garage in Blackpool, eight months after being subjected to a brutal kidnap in which he was beaten with an iron bar and dumped at the side of the M55.

Gillard was charged with leading the 10-man kidnap gang, but was acquitted of kidnap and robbery at Carlisle Crown Court.

One theory investigated by detectives after the murder was that Mr Rosser had been involved in drug trafficking, but no-one has yet been convicted of the killing.

Gillard was also a close friend of businessman, Roger Ormsby, 35, who was shot dead at the wheel of his BMW in Moss Side in January 2000.

Ormsby ran several businesses, including a garage, and was known to police for drug offences. No-one has been convicted of his killing. The jury heard that Ormsby was a business associate of the blackmail victim, identified, for legal reasons, only as Mr X.

Detectives acted against Gillard when Mr X, a 47 year old garage boss, was blackmailed into handing over cash after Gillard told him he would be shot and his home torched. The victim was so frightened he initially handed over £1,000, but after further threats were made by Gillard to hand over £2,000, he contacted police.

An expert used in the infamous TV 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' trial was drafted in to analyse audio from taped telephone conversations between Gillard and Mr X.

In 1996, Ormsby had bought the victim's £200,000 share of another garage firm in Manchester at a knock-down price of £80,000.

Mr X was said to have remembered Gillard as a 'friend' of Ormsby during the bargain deal.

In November last year Gillard began turning up at Mr X's business in Urmston demanding cash. Gillard took him to one side before telling him: "You owe me money."

Mr X said he did not, but Gillard then allegedly claimed he had been responsible for a fire at Mr X's home in Moston in August 1996, after which he subsequently received £8,000 from insurers.

The defendant said that if he was not paid he would 'cap' him. He took that to mean he would be shot.

He was frightened because of his association with Ormsby.

Judge Peter Larkin told Gillard: "Blackmail is a sinister offence and one which causes deep revulsion in ordinary, decent people. In my opinion you are a manipulative and dangerous man."