GANGLAND author, Dave Courtney had a criminal past, associated with crooks and held the police in contempt according to his long-term lover.

Rap artist Jennifer Pinto denied to an Old Bailey jury her partner, Courtney, was a grass but admitted he associated with criminals.

Dave Courtney, age 41 of Chestnut Drive, Plumstead, once ran for Mayor of London and is the subject of countless newspaper profiles and a best-selling book.

He is one of four defendants alleged to have hatched a cynical plot to help a bitter husband win custody of his little boy.

It is claimed Courtney was recruited by Bexley DC Austin Warnes to frame part-time model Kim James, 29, as a cocaine dealer.

It was hoped she would go to prison and her bitter ex-husband, Simon James, 34, would get custody of their child, it is alleged.

But Courtney has denied the conspiracy charge, alleging Warnes merely asked him to say he had told police about drugs being kept in Miss James house.

Warnes has already admitted passing on false information about the alleged drug habits of Miss James and a friend as part of a plot to ensure police raided her home.

Miss Pinto, the mother of Courtneys three children, told the court her partner was more worried about being branded an informant than about the facts of case.

She said: Dave holds the police in contempt. I knew Warnes was a bent copper.

Courtneys friend, Ian Tucker, who admitted he has lots of criminal convictions, took the stand and vehemently denied Courtney was involved.

I can swear with my hand on my heart, and on my babys heart, he is not guilty of one per cent of what he is accused of.

Warnes was in a corner and he needed to explain where he got his information from. He said to Dave: Can I come to you and say you told me? and Dave said yes.

All four defendants deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The trial continues.