A man tried to recruit a hitman to make someone “disappear into the River Medway”, it has been alleged.

Michael Butler told a friend “I’ve got a problem... and it needs to be dealt with,” a jury at Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Butler, 45, of Heathfield Close, Chatham, has denied assisting in the commission of encouraging Peter Vincent to carry out a murder or causing grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC claimed the target, Ross Attwood, was in a relationship with Butler’s step-daughter two years ago.

He claimed in November 2007 Butler visited Mr Vincent, a man he knew through the sale of tobacco.

“Butler said: ‘I’ve got a problem with Ross. I want him beaten. I want him taken out of the equation,'" explained Mr Bennetts.

Butler is alleged to have added he wanted Mr Attwood “completely disappeared” because he hated him “with a passion”.

Mr Attwood, Butler claimed, was preventing him from seeing his grandchild.

“Butler gave him a photograph of Ross and Mr Vincent then left. He had no intention of carrying out the request...” Philip Bennetts QC

Mr Bennetts added: “He said he wanted Ross Attwood gone and suggested Peter Vincent put him in a river.

"By this he assumed Butler was asking him to kill Ross and to make him disappear and dispose of him in the River Medway.

“Butler said at the very least he wanted Ross battered so much he would be in intensive care.”

Mr Vincent, alerted police and taped a conversation with Butler, when they discussed that Butler would pay anything from ‘a monkey’ (£500) to £650 and from £1,000 to £2,000 if he was able to make Mr Attwood disappear.

“Butler said at the very least he wanted Ross battered so much he would be in intensive care...” Philip Bennetts QC

“Butler gave him a photograph of Ross and Mr Vincent then left. He had no intention of carrying out the request,” he added.

In a recording, played to the jury, Butler is asked by Mr Vincent what he wanted him to do?

Butler replies: “I want him out of the picture permanently, yeah.”

The trial continues.

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