One of the others arrested at the time was Geoffrey Driver, then Lancashire council leader and leader of its Conservative party group. The warrants for the men's arrests stated that evidence had been gathered that between 2013 and 2015 Mr. Driver in collusion with the three others had been ""involved in activity directed toward a number of principal witnesses" ... "which was clearly designed to intimidate, belittle and undermine them both professionally and, crucially, as witnesses in the investigation"". The witnesses reportedly included four people who held Lancashire county council roles, including as treasurer, auditor and as a councillor.