The double life of Billy Black: A humble 'shop worker' with a £28million property empire brought down in the hunt for Dale Cregan

Billy Black claimed to be eking out a living as the manager of a second-hand shop.

Over an eight year period he told the taxman he'd earnt just £1,985. But away from the prying eyes of Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs, his flash lifestyle told a completely different story.

Somehow Black found the money to extend his home in Droyslden in Tameside to three times its original size. He wore Rolex watches, had a 60ins telly, owned a luxury caravan at Prestatyn and drove around in a Mercedes CLK 200 soft-top sports car.

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That's because in fact he was a big-time drug dealer. He owned a £28m property empire, including 28 rental homes across Greater Manchester, which he used to launder the proceeds of his criminal racket.

But in September 2012 Black's secret double life came crashing down. Four months earlier Dale Cregan had slaughtered rivals Mark Short, 23, and his father David Short, 46, in Droyslden in a pair of terrifying gun and grenade gangland hits.

Detectives searching for the fugitive visited Black's home in Waverley Crescent during a number of attempts to capture Cregan. Although Black - who had strong links with the Cregan family - was home there was no sign of Cregan.

But what police found sparked another major investigation. Inside, the plush semi had oak parquet flooring throughout.

Rolex watches and jewellery worth £120,000 were hidden under a wardrobe. One Rolex alone was valued at £23,000 and brazen Black even told detectives: "Be careful. That one's worth £23,000. Look after them. I'll be wanting them back after the trial."

A second Rolex worth £16,800 was on his girlfriend's wrist. The drugs baron even had