Robert Gerrard, the footballer’s cousin but known as ‘Uncle Bobby’, is suspected of having links to a drugs cartel.
Attending a Football match to watch his famous relative play the criminal put himself on public show even though he had been on the run for several years from police probing a £1.5million plot to import 300kg of cannabis to the UK from Amsterdam.
A warrant had been issued for the arrest of the man Stevie G called “Uncle” after he fled from justice in 1999.But now the 50-year-old is on the run again.
He is suspected of being involved in a plot to try to import up to £60mmillion of cocaine into Britain.
There is no suggestion Steven and “Uncle Bobby” are seeing each other now.
Top crime busters want to question Bobby about a sophisticated international drug ring said to involve violent criminals and massive sums of cash.
Last night sources close to Steven, 33, said he had no idea of his wayward relative’s activities
One source said: “Steven knew his Uncle Bobby had been in trouble with the police but didn’t know it was as serious as it apparently is.
Robert Gerrard’s original 10-year flight from justice came after he was caught with a gang who stashed cannabis, amphetamine and cocaine in Merseyside and the Channel Islands.
He was charged with conspiracy to supply drugs during December 1998.
Four other men, three from Liverpool and one from Glasgow, were also charged and in 2001 they were jailed for a total of 28 years.
But meanwhile Gerrard had gone on the run after failing to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court in March 1999. It is believed he spent a decade hiding out in southern Spain and Holland.
Written by Steve Milne @stevenmilnelive
