A KEY witness giving evidence at a blackmail trial has been accused of passing off his son's evidence as his own on oath.

Abdul Hafeez said he borrowed thousands from "loan shark" and "friend" David Bowen to help him with his restaurant businesses. But giving evidence at Swansea Crown Court he rejected claims he had rounded up and "nobbled" witnesses for the investigation, "putting them up to tell lies".

In the dock are brothers Johnathan Bowen, aged 38, and Timothy Bowen, aged 37, both of Hendrefoilan Road, Killay, their sister Sally Morris and their mother Gaynor Bowen, aged 66, of Gower Road, Killay. Also charged is Richard Rowe, aged 37, of Priors Way, Dunvant, and Glyn Stock, aged 41, of Killan Road, Dunvant.

All six deny the offences of blackmail and unlawful debt collection.

A "family man", Mr Hafeez said he paid all his debts plus "extortionate" interest rates, until Mr Bowen's daughter Sally Morris demanded more cash in 2008.

He said Morris, aged 35, of Killan Road, Dunvant, had repeatedly phoned him in 2007, asking him for help to trace people who owed her father money.

She is then alleged to have visited his family address on July 28, 2008, with co-defendants Stock and Rowe, who was armed with an axe.

He said that when the trio turned up he stayed in the living room and sent his son and nephew to answer the door.

In his original statements following the incident, Mr Hafeez told investigating officers he had only seen Morris through the window on the day of the visit.

Giving evidence in court he said he also saw a man with long hair trying to get in the back of the house.

Stock's barrister, Ian Wright, cross examining, said: "This isn't mentioned anywhere in your four statements, is it?

"There isn't a hint of any of this detail about a person trying to get in to the back of the house."

Mr Hafeez, who said he'd "forgotten to mention it", added that it was his son who told him what was happening.

Mr Wright put to him: "You have given evidence on oath not of what you have seen but what somebody else told you."

During the cross examination Mr Hafeez dismissed claims that he was "pulling in the troops", and rounding up witnesses for investigating officer Mandy Flood, "to lie" to help support his case.

Prosecutor Susan Ferrier, said: "It has been suggested you've been, to use the expression, 'nobbling' witnesses, in other words, putting them up to tell lies. Have you?"

Mr Hafeez rejected the claim.

The trial continues.

julia.bosnyak@swwmedia.co.uk

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