A boss and his company secretary were involved in a multi-million pound plot to smuggle drugs from Holland to their offices in Shipley, a jury heard.

Andrew Varey, 43, and his former partner Maxine Robinson, 39, deny conspiracy to supply drugs.

They were arrested after French customs seized one-and a-half tonnes of heroin and cannabis with a street value of £10 million bound for Varey Shopfittings, Jubilee Way, Windhill, Shipley. Prosecutor Jason Pitter said Varey took part in the drugs plot because he was in financial trouble.

The jury has heard that his business was in decline and he feared losing his house in Fairbank Place, Shipley.

Mr Pitter told Bradford Crown Court the drugs were seized in a random check at Calais on August 14, 2008.

He alleged Varey and Robinson agreed to provide a place for the drugs consignment to be delivered and unpacked.

Mr Pitter said a Dutch national, Jackie Heinen, played a significant role in arranging for the drugs to be brought to the UK. They were in heat-sealed packages on four pallets.

The prosecution case is that there were a total of 14 deliveries to Varey Shopfittings between March and August 2008.

Mr Pitter said Varey was arrested at his premises and told police: “There’s no gear here, it goes out same day as it comes in.”

Robinson was arrested at a caravan park in Filey, where she was then living after her 11-year relationship with Varey ended.

Varey told the jury he was a former joiner who set up his business in 2004-05. It did very well at first but by the spring of 2008 there was a downturn in trade and he was owed £15,000 by a firm that went bust.

Deliveries began arriving after he met a man and discussed renting out part of his premises. Varey said he was told it was building materials but suspected it was tobacco.

“I never thought it was drugs. If I thought it was drugs, I would have phoned the police straight away,” he told the jury.

The trial continues.

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