Witness terror as Cregan stayed the night

A witness told a jury of his terror when fugitive Dale Cregan turned up at his Tameside home the night before murdering two police officers.

“I opened the door. Standing there was Dale Cregan. I was in total shock,” the witness said in a statement. “I was really scared. I feared for my life. Dale Cregan was the last person I expected to be at my home.”

Cregan (29) drank and smoked after arriving at the home in Abbey Gardens, Hattersley late last September 17 and stayed the night. He was the subject of a massive police hunt, suspected of the murders of father and son David and Mark Short.

Next day he made the fateful, fake 999 call that lured PCs Nicola Hughes of Diggle, and Fiona Bone to the house, then opened fire before tossing a hand grenade at them as they lay dying.

The witness said he only knew Cregan through a mutual friend: “Dale pulled out a grenade then placed that on the fireplace. I was terrified,” he said. The witness said there was “no way” he was going to alert police and “didn’t even think” of the £50,000 reward. “If someone has a gun and a grenade I will do whatever they want,” he added.

Around 5.30am the the witness went to work - but had to leave early due to worry about what was going on at his home.

Cregan was still there when he returned. The witness was upstairs when he heard gunfire, followed by a huge explosion. Cregan admitted the murder of the officers but denies the murder of the Shorts.

Nine other defendants deny involvement in the murders or assisting Cregan evade police.

The trial was adjourned until next week.