Madonna's ex bodyguard denies 'smuggling 80 guns into Britain' by stripping them down to hide in suitcases

Last updated at 7:12 PM on 21st October 2011

Steven Greenoe is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court

A former U.S. marine, who once worked as a bodyguard for Madonna, has denied being part of an international gun smuggling conspiracy.

Steven Greenoe, 37, bought guns from American gun shops, broke them down to their component parts and then smuggled them into the UK in his luggage, a trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard.

The prosecution say Steven Cardwell, 31, and Neil Copplestone, 32, both from Liverpool, sold guns smuggled by Greenoe on to UK criminals and that the weapons were used in numerous crimes on the streets of the UK, including one fatal shooting.

But today Cardwell, of Aintree, told the jury that he knew nothing of the gun smuggling.

Gordon Cole, defending Cardwell, asked him: "At any stage did you ever know anything about Mr Greenoe illegally importing guns?"

Cardwell replied: "No, not at all. I never ever suspected he would have done something like that."

The jury was told that payments which Cardwell deposited into Greenoe's account were profits made from selling cannabis.

Asked if he ever had anything to do with importing guns, Cardwell replied: "Never."

Celebrity clientle: Steven Greenoe once worked as a bodyguard for Madonna, according to his wife

Last week the trial was tol! d that G reenoe, who is awaiting sentence in the US, had worked for a company providing maritime security for yachts in the south of France.

Gordon Cole, defending Cardwell, asked Greenoes former wife Elizabeth: Was he [Greenoe] working at times as security for films, in particular Oceans Twelve?

Mrs Greenoe replied: Yes, thats right.

Mr Cole then asked if she had seen photographs of Greenoe 'in the company of film or pop stars' including George Clooney, Matt Damon and Madonna and if he had posted the pictures on his Facebook 'wall'.

Mrs Greenoe said: 'I have seen a picture of him when he bodyguarded for Madonna.'

The court was also told that certificates were discovered after Greenoe's arrest which appeared to throw doubt on his claims to be a captain in the US marines.

The court was told that Greenoe had worked as security on Ocean's Twelve (actors George Clooney, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt pictured from the set)

One certificate referred to him being a lance corporal in an administration role.

Mrs Greenoe said her former husband, from whom she is now divorced, told her that aside from being a captain in the US marines he had also worked for Nato and the French Foreign Legion.

After his arrest it was discovered that Greenoe had run up credit card debts of 38,000 which his wife knew nothing about, the jury heard.

Greenoe was arrested at Raleigh Durham International Airport on July 25, 2010 when an arsenal of 16 lethal weapons was found in his suitcase.

The trial heard that Greenoe is a US citizen who had "indefinite leave to remain in the UK" because his then wife was a British citizen, and that! when Gr eenoe came to the UK he lived with her in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Cardwell and Copplestone, of Ormskirk, both deny conspiracy to import, sell and possess prohibited firearms with intent to endanger life.

The trial continues.