A CONVICTED Merseyside drug smuggler accused of pretending to turn supergrass to con a court into slashing his sentence, yesterday admitted using his own money to buy weapons so police could seize them.

But John Haase, who said that happened with only a few of the stashes he helped the authorities recover, insisted those in power were anxious for his help.

Having been registered as an informant, no-one ever “raised a question mark” about what he was doing, never told him to stop and not once advised “there was a risk of prosecution”.

Neither was there any criticism of the quality of the information he provided, or, indeed, any unhappiness expressed about the lack of arrests during the seizures.

He told London’s Southwark Crown Court that as a result of the encouragement he received, drugs cash he had “on the outside” was used, for example, to purchase 80 Italian shotguns stolen in a Bournemouth raid.

When his Customs and Excise “handler” was first told about the weapons “he came back to me and said get them. The police were going mad for these, to get them.”

Haase then phoned one of his underworld contacts and once the robbers had been paid £50 for each weapon, the entire haul was driven to Bootle in a van. The police were informed and seized the lot.

He told jurors as far as he was concerned all the information he provided was “genuine” and not designed to “curry favour” to win an early release he did not deserve.

London’s Southwark Crown Court has heard the help he and his nephew Paul Bennett provided resulted in more than 30 seizures altogether.

It included an “awesome array” of 150 weapons, including machine guns and 1,500 rounds of ammunition.

Drugs, stolen property and fake Semtex were also recovered, as were a 40ft rope and a gun due to be used in prison escape bids.

But the Crown claims it was all part of a plot the men put together from behind bars using mobile phones.

According to prosecutor Gibson Grenfell, QC, they hoped the allegedly bogus hauls planted by accomplices would win official gratitude and a reduction in their otherwise inevitable lengthy sentences.

In the event the 18-year sentences passed on him and Bennett at Liverpool Crown Court in 1995, were later reduced to five after Judge David Lynch wrote to Home Secretary Michael Howard recommending both be granted a Royal Prerogative of Mercy.

He agreed and, once time already served in remand had been taken into consideration, they were released just 11 months later.

Haase, 59, and Bennett, 44, both of no fixed address, Haase’s wife Deborah, 37, of Teynham Avenue, Knowsley Village, and Sharon Knowles, of Wadeson Road, Walton, all deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Haase’s wife also denies one charge of possessing illegal firearms and one of possessing illegal ammunition.

The drug smuggler, who began by detailing a criminal career stretching back to 1963, said he had expected “at least 20 years”.

But his handler made it clear his help could reduce it to “sixes and fives”.

He said because his assistance put his safety at risk a “cover story” was created to keep his role a secret.

He told his barrister, Trevor Burke, QC, the information he provided came from a variety of underworld associates.

Some were paid for their assistance while others did it “as a favour”.

Haase told the court he once told his “handler” about an escape bid being planned at Strangeways prison in Manchester, and how a 40ft ladder and escape plans had been stored in the laundry room.

“Prisoners were talking about it. A couple mentioned it. So I passed the information on.”

He also told his handler about a gun he learnt had been smuggled on to one of the wings.

Mr Burke then asked: “As this progressed and information about guns was passed and guns were seized, was it ever your intention to dishonestly mislead the authorities and to station these stashes yourself.”

“No,” Haase replied.

The barrister said: “Was it your intention that the judge be hoodwinked in some way to give you a reduction in sentence to which you were not entitled?”

“No,” the defendant repeated.

He said during the two years he spent behind bars waiting to be dealt with, he and his handler discussed the reduced sentence he was likely to receive “plenty of times”.

“Was that an incentive?” Mr Burke inquired.

Haase replied: “Yes, it was.”

Later, during cross examination, Haase denied there was any truth in claims he bribed either his handler, Paul Cook, or Mr Howard.

The court has heard that in an affidavit made after Labour MP Peter Kilfoyle visited him in prison, the defendant allegedly admitted arranging a £400,000 backhander to be paid to the then Home Secretary to help secure his early release.

But he told Gibson Grenfell, QC, prosecuting: “Anything to do with bribes to Michael Howard, bribes to Cooke and the laying down of firearms is not true.”

The trial was adjourned until today.