Westerdale Drive in the coastal village of Banks boasts detached homes with tidy front gardens shaded by silver birch trees. Families from Liverpool and Manchester have long sought refuge here for a serene suburban life away from city chaos. Yet, the cul-de-sac now shelters two notorious Liverpool gangsters, Stephen Clarke and Paul Lawler, shattering the neighborhood’s tranquility.
Recent Knife-Wielding Chase Alarms Residents
On December 27, neighbors witnessed Paul Lawler, 47, emerge from undergrowth brandishing a knife while dressed in a robe. He chased a random dog walker before fleeing toward a nearby petrol station.
“He was in a dressing gown and had a big knife,” one local man recalled. “The dog walker called police, prompting an armed response team.”
Reports indicate Lawler had been on a cocaine binge since Christmas Eve, starting after he was ejected from a bar for spilling and retrieving cocaine from the floor. He now serves a 16-month sentence for knife possession.
History of Violence and Drug Crimes
Lawler, a former Birkdale High School student, earned a 10-year prison term in 2013 for his role in a crime syndicate led by neighbor Stephen Clarke, late 50s. During his arrest, officers caught him flushing cocaine and discovered a cannabis farm in his garage. He admitted to being “off the trolley” after heavy drug use.
In 2019, CCTV captured Lawler knocking a man unconscious in Southport. Police found another cannabis operation at his home in 2021, though he avoided further jail time.
Clarke relocated to Westerdale Drive in 2007 post-release for illegal firearm possession—a .357 Magnum found in his wife’s handbag at a Nottingham diner. His prior Kirkby residence had been targeted by rivals. A friend notes Lawler’s behavior has deteriorated since associating with Clarke, a 17-stone kickboxer.
Gang’s Drug Empire and Wild Parties
Clarke and his brother Peter, ex-Army corporal, ran an operation smuggling £4 million in cocaine and cannabis to Northern Ireland. Stephen cultivated cannabis in Southport; Peter sourced cocaine from the Netherlands and carried firearms in body armor. Raids uncovered knives, machetes, guns, bullets, and magazines.
Clarke hosted raucous parties with Merseyside figures, including a MasterChef contestant. One event escalated when he allegedly punched a guest and urinated on him. The trio—Clarke brothers and Lawler—received lengthy sentences in 2013: Stephen 10.5 years, Peter 16 years.
Residents Demand Change Amid Ongoing Fears
Other disturbances include shattered house windows from unidentified shooters. With both gangsters reportedly free or soon to be, locals dread Lawler’s release.
“My main concern is what happens when Paul comes out,” a nearby resident said. “He is a drug addict. The Christmas incident was the final straw. There are young families here—we didn’t move for this.”
Another added: “Lawler is a complete nutter and has been for years. Families near him suffer most. He is deranged.”
The village’s peaceful reputation, highlighted by shock over the 2024 Southport tragedy perpetrator’s local ties, now faces further strain from these criminals.
