British kingpin known as 'The One' accused of ordering murder of innocent teacher in Holland

The lad of Gerard Meesters, who was gunned down connected his doorstep successful 2002, tells Robert Dawes: 'Today I anticipation justness wins, that you volition ne'er beryllium capable to determine connected anybody’s beingness again similar you did to my father'

A British transgression lord known arsenic "The One" could beryllium jailed for beingness aft going connected proceedings successful Holland accused of ordering a deed connected an guiltless teacher 22 years ago.

Gerard Meesters, 52, was changeable 8 times connected the doorstep of his location successful the Netherlands by an English gunman hunting his estranged sister. Nottinghamshire-born Dawes is connected proceedings successful the state accused of masterminding the execution due to the fact that helium suspected Mr Meesters' sibling had stolen drugs from him.

The victim's son, Koen, told Dawes during a proceeding successful a precocious information tribunal adjacent Schiphol airdrome this week: “This is the time I look astatine the antheral I clasp liable for my regular suffering, a antheral who ne'er thinks of the suffering helium has caused, lone has derogatory comments connected the evidence, and plays to beryllium innocence itself. You spot yourself arsenic the centre of attention, arsenic if your beingness is the lone 1 that matters. But contiguous I anticipation justness wins, that you volition ne'er beryllium capable to determine connected anybody’s beingness again similar you did to my father.”

Mr Meester's daughter, Annemarie, said Dawes was a "danger to society" and should ne'er beryllium released, telling the tribunal that helium was "the existent perpetrator successful these crimes". Dawes, 52, described arsenic "one of the astir important organised criminals successful Europe", was jailed for 22 years successful France for a £216 cardinal cocaine haul. He denies immoderate engagement successful the murder. “I americium terribly atrocious for what happened to you”, helium told the tribunal successful effect to the unfortunate interaction statements. Dawes added: “I did not bid this job, I americium not liable for this, I person nary motive for it.”

Former Dawes ft worker Daniel Sowerby was jailed for beingness successful the Netherlands successful 2006 for shooting Mr Meesters. The existent probe began successful 2018 aft Mr Meester's children visited their father's slayer successful prison. Much of the grounds is based connected recordings of Dawes' associates, the tribunal has heard. Dutch prosecutors person called for a beingness condemnation to beryllium handed down "partly due to the fact that the fishy has lived his full beingness arsenic a ruthless criminal, amassing important wealth".

A fewer days earlier the murder, Sowerby visited Mr Meesters' location successful Groningen, a metropolis successful the bluish Netherlands, with notorious Dutch gangster Gwenette Martha, who was aboriginal changeable dead. When Mr Meesters failed to archer them wherever his sister was, Sowerby returned and killed him. The sister, who was tracked down by constabulary weeks aft the murder, said she had nary cognition of the alleged drugs theft, the tribunal heard.

Prosecutors said fearfulness of Dawes was the "thread" that ran done the lawsuit and called for him to beryllium jailed for life, describing the kingpin arsenic "the brains down this liquidation". The verdict and imaginable condemnation volition beryllium handed down astatine a aboriginal date.

From his days arsenic a young transgression connected a Nottingham assembly estate, Dawes became 1 of Europe's Top 10 astir wanted gangsters. He got his archetypal condemnation successful 1983, aged 11, and went connected to cod 16 more, for robbery, drugs, battle and having an violative weapon.

A retired Nottinghamshire detective who investigated the Dawes cartel told the Mirror successful 2018: "They were juvenile criminals who got into drugs and began to instrumentality control. Rob was the main man. He had the skills to marque the organisation a formidable unit and was besides a due thug."

He relocated to the Costa del Sol successful 2001 to flight Nottinghamshire Police. Dawes bought a £1million villa successful Benalmadena but inactive dressed successful tracksuit and trainers. His aliases included Trackie, Franky, The Derbyman and The One. He was besides known arsenic "The Voice" connected an encrypted telephone web he acceptable up to enactment 1 measurement up of the police. Dawes escaped justness for decades by utilizing violence, bent officials and blase anti-surveillance techniques.

Moving astir ineligible jurisdictions, the joined gramps had associates successful much than 50 countries, including Afghanistan, China, Italy, Nigeria, Colombia and New Zealand. In 2005, Dawes' member John was jailed for 24 years. Ledgers revealed astatine slightest £8.5million was sent to "Franky" successful Spain. By 2007 Robert Dawes was flitting betwixt Spain and Dubai, wherever helium laundered cash, built a £10million spot portfolio and spent clip with his Chinese mistress.

Spanish constabulary yet charged him but the lawsuit collapsed successful 2012. Dawes began organising yet larger shipments of cocaine and heroin - moving successful thousands of kilos alternatively than hundreds. In 2013 French authorities seized a grounds 1.3 tons of cocaine successful suitcases of 31 "ghost" passengers. Those arrested each had Dawes' trademark encrypted phones. He was nicked aboriginal aft being taped boasting: "You cognize the large 1 successful Paris successful each the luggage... that was mine."

After Dawes' sentencing successful 2018, past National Crime Agency lawman manager Matt Horne said: "Dawes was 1 of the astir important organised criminals successful Europe with a web that virtually spanned the globe. Dawes was prepared to usage utmost levels of unit successful bid to further his estimation and instrumentality retribution against those who crossed him. Members oregon associates of his transgression radical are known to person been progressive successful intimidation, shootings and murders."