Lined with spacious detached homes and tidy front gardens under silver birch trees, Westerdale Drive in the quiet coastal village of Banks appears ideal for a serene suburban life. Families have long sought refuge here from the bustle of Liverpool and Manchester, enjoying tranquility at the cul-de-sac’s end. However, residents now share the street with two notorious Liverpool gangsters, Stephen Clarke, a crime boss in his late fifties, and his associate Paul Lawler, 47, who live just doors apart at the southern end.
Disturbing Incidents Plague the Neighborhood
Neighbors describe a series of chaotic events, including wild cocaine-fueled parties and violent outbursts. One alarming episode involved a house on the street suffering shattered windows from gunfire, though no suspects were identified. A birthday party at Clarke’s home reportedly escalated into a fight, ending with him allegedly punching a guest and urinating on him.
The latest disturbance occurred on December 27, 2024, when Lawler emerged from nearby undergrowth brandishing a knife while wearing a dressing gown. He chased a random dog walker before fleeing toward a local petrol station. “He was in a dressing gown and had a big knife,” one local man recalled. “He chased a dog walker and then ran off toward the petrol station. The dog walker called the police, and they sent an armed response team.”
Reports suggest Lawler had been on a cocaine binge since Christmas Eve, after being ejected from a bar for spilling and retrieving a bag of the drug from the floor. He now serves a 16-month sentence for knife possession.
Criminal Histories of the Key Figures
Lawler, a former pupil at Birkdale High School, built a reputation for violence. In 2013, authorities jailed him for 10 years as part of a major crime ring led by Clarke. During his arrest, officers found him flushing cocaine down the toilet amid a cannabis farm in his garage. He admitted to being “off the trolley” after heavy drug use. In 2019, CCTV captured him knocking a man unconscious in Southport, leading to his recall to prison. Another cannabis farm discovered in his home in May 2021 resulted in charges but no further jail time.
Clarke moved to Westerdale Drive in 2007 after completing a sentence for gun possession—a .357 Magnum found in his wife’s handbag at a Nottingham diner. His prior Kirkby home had been targeted by rivals. He operates alongside his brother Peter, a former Army corporal, in a gang specializing in drug exports to Northern Ireland. Stephen grew cannabis in Southport, while Peter sourced cocaine from the Netherlands and carried firearms and body armor.
Police surveillance in 2013 dismantled the operation. Stephen received 10 years and six months for smuggling £4 million in cocaine and cannabis; Peter got 16 years for drugs and firearms. Lawler was also imprisoned then. Both brothers are believed released, but Lawler’s pending release raises fresh concerns.
Residents Voice Fears for Safety
Locals express dismay at the gang’s impact on their peaceful enclave, once shocked by the 2024 Southport tragedy involving Axel Rudakubana. A nearby resident stated, “My main concern is what happens when Paul comes out. He is a drug addict, and to be honest, I would like him to move now. The incident at Christmas was the final straw. The fact that he was running around with a knife is a concern. There are young families in the area, and we didn’t move here for this kind of carry on.”
Another neighbor added, “That Lawler is a complete nutter and has been for years. We are stuck with him and his mates. They are notorious people. If you live on the other side of Westerdale, you are ok, but I feel sorry for the families near him. He is deranged.”
The gang reportedly earned £2 million smuggling drugs across the Irish Sea, with seizures including weapons like knives, machetes, guns, bullets, and magazines.
