Couple appear in court after doomed 'video confession' plot

A couple created a bogus video confession as they sought to clear the name of a drug dealer, a court heard. Lee Hayes' legal team were provided with a statement and mobile phone footage from Emily O'Shea alleging that her partner, Anecy Semley, had 'planted some gear' at his flat, a judge was told.

Police executed a search warrant at Hayes' home on April 1, 2021, and recovered a quantity of cocaine valued at up to £3,500, as well as £575 in cash and drug paraphernalia.

But his courier, Semley, and her girlfriend, O'Shea, then set about filming footage in which the former claimed to have 'planted' the stash of illicit substances.

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Liverpool Crown Court on Friday that Merseyside Police found messages on Hayes' iPhone made referencing the sale of 'flake, beak and lemo' and provided Semley's bank account details to customers for payment.

Stella Hayden, prosecuting, described how 33-year-old Semley, of Prescot Road in St Helens, was evidenced to have completed deliveries on his behalf. Hayes, of Morley Road in Southport, was set to face a trial over the seizure but in August, 2022, the 49-year-old's solicitors were provided with a statement and mobile phone footage from O'Shea alleging that her partner had 'planted some gear' at his flat, reports The Echo.

The video supposedly showed Semley being secretly filmed as she admitted to the apparent set up. But the mum, who has no previous convictions, later confessed to detectives under interview that the clip had been staged.

Both her and O'Shea were said to have embarked on filming the footage "at the behest" of Hayes following "pressure and manipulation". Frank Dillon, defending Semley,