Westerdale Drive in the coastal village of Banks boasts detached homes with tidy front gardens shaded by silver birch trees, drawing families from Liverpool and Manchester seeking suburban tranquility. This cul-de-sac long served as a haven for professionals and their children, far from urban chaos. Yet, 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 Rock the Neighborhood

Neighbors describe a series of alarming events, including shattered house windows from unidentified gunshots and chaotic parties. One gathering reportedly ended with Clarke punching a guest and urinating on him as he lay on the floor. The latest disturbance occurred on December 27, when Lawler emerged from nearby undergrowth brandishing a knife while wearing a dressing gown. He chased a random dog walker before fleeing toward a 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.” Witnesses link the episode to Lawler’s cocaine binge that started on Christmas Eve, after he was ejected from a bar for spilling and retrieving a bag of the drug from the floor.

Paul Lawler’s Extensive Criminal Record

Lawler, a former Birkdale High School student and serial offender, currently serves a 16-month sentence for possessing the knife. In 2013, authorities jailed him for 10 years as part of Clarke’s organized crime ring. Officers caught him flushing cocaine balls down the toilet during a raid, with a cannabis farm in his garage. He admitted being “off the trolley” after heavy drug use.

Additional convictions include a February 2019 assault caught on CCTV, where he punched a man unconscious in Southport, leading to his recall to prison. In May 2021, police discovered another cannabis farm at his home, though he avoided further jail time.

Stephen Clarke’s Gang Operations

Clarke moved to Westerdale Drive in 2007 following a prison term for illegal gun possession—a .357 Magnum found in his wife’s handbag at a Nottingham restaurant. His prior Kirkby home had been targeted by rivals. With his brother Peter, a former Army corporal, Clarke ran a gang smuggling £4 million in cocaine and cannabis to Northern Ireland. Stephen grew cannabis in Southport, while Peter sourced cocaine from Dutch suppliers and carried firearms and body armor.

The operation, which generated an estimated £2 million, ended in a 2013 police bust. Stephen received 10 years and six months, Peter 16 years on drug and firearms charges, and Lawler 10 years. Both Clarke brothers have since been released.

Clarke’s home hosted rowdy parties attended by Merseyside figures, including a MasterChef contestant, further unsettling locals. One associate notes Lawler has “unravelled” under Clarke’s influence.

Residents Fear Lawler’s Release

Banks, known for its serene vibe—shaken previously by the 2024 Southport tragedy involving Axel Rudakubana—now grapples with ongoing fears. Neighbors dread Lawler’s impending release. “My main concern is what happens when Paul comes out,” one resident said. “He is a drug addict, and to be honest, I would like him to move now. The incident at Christmas was the final straw. There are young families here, and we didn’t move for this kind of carry-on.”

Another added: “That Lawler is a complete nutter and has been for years. We are stuck with him and his mates. They are notorious people. Families near him face the worst of it. He is deranged.”