THE criminal empire ran by a pair of notorious Hull brothers was more "disorganised than organised crime", according to their defence lawyers. Darren Wilson, 46, and Dean Armstrong, 40, who is now a born-again Christian, will be sentenced next Thursday for running a reign of terror across Hull, which involved conspiring to murder, arson, loan sharking and drugs.
But defence lawyer for Wilson, John Thackray, said he had actually ended up losing money from his crimes.
"This is disorganised, not organised crime," he said. "Armstrong was driving around in an old secondhand car and Wilson was living in Bransholme in a house with no carpets. Financially, Mr Wilson has gained absolutely nothing and lost a lot of money."
Loan shark Wilson was convicted for conspiracy to murder his friend's husband, Andrew Burr, 37, as part of a £750,000 life insurance plot in September and, in June, he pleaded guilty to seven counts of money laundering.
His brother, who worked for GC Lettings, in Hull, admitted arson and the production of cannabis, which Wilson denied, but was convicted by the jury.
Opening the prosecution case, Mark McKone said: "Wilson was an unofficial money lender and Armstrong worked for GC Lettings agency, controlling rents from tenants. They got other people to agree to commit serious crimes on their behalf. They also ran profitable cannabis factories in big houses, often obtained through Armstrong's letting agency."
The thug brothers arranged for cancer sufferer Donna Nagi's Grove Street four-bedroom home in Hull to be petrol-bombed twice in January, in a bid to force her out so they could grow cannabis there.
Weeks before the arson, Wilson had been arrested for loan sharking, totalling 461 loans worth £209,160.
Prosecuting for England Illegal Money Lending Team, Simon Mortimer said: "There was £2,500 a month of loans going out. How much interest was paid seemed to vary from person to person, varying from 50 per to 100 per cent."
Prosecution are requesting a serious organised crime order is made when they are sentenced.
But John Thackray, defending Wilson, said: "There is no evidence Mr Wilson was making substantial sums of money. In fact, he has done nothing but lose money because of his involvement in crime."
Stephen Robinson, for Armstrong, said he had discovered his faith and was remorseful.
He said: "He is calmer and more in control and shows no animosity to the police."
Jackson Nagee, 37, and Michael Reid, 45, will also be sentenced on Thursday for growing cannabis in Harley Street, Hull, for the brothers.
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