Chadderton man in dock in Royal palaces bribe scam trial

THE £100,000 bribery scam trial of the Queen’s former deputy property manager - whose co-accused includes a Chadderton man - began yesterday.

Ronald Harper (61) allegedly accepted thousands of pounds for granting major contracts for work in London’s Royal residences.

The lucrative scam saw multiple directors of heating, building and energy firms win the desirable work after bribing Harper, it is claimed.

The maintenance work at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace was funded by the Civil List, now known as the Sovereign Grant.

Harper and nine co-defendants — including 80-year-old Harry Howard of Racefield Hamlet, Chadderton, — appeared in the dock at Southwark Crown Court yesterday.

Harper was not required to enter formal pleas to four charges of conspiring to give and receive corrupts payments over a period lasting almost six years.

Howard — charged with giving and receiving corrupt payments and fraud by abuse of position respectively — indicated a not guilty plea at an earlier hearing.

It is alleged that between 2006-2011, several company directors bribed Harper, who was suspended in 2012. In return he allegedly awarded them large work contracts.

All defendants were released on unconditional bail until November.