Humberside - Confiscation Orders awarded for over £1.1 million
In the period between September and October the North East RART successfully obtained confiscation orders totalling £1,134,579 in respect of three cases referred by Humberside Police.
Humberside’s Largest Confiscation Order
At Hull Crown Court on 27th September 2007, Kevin Brough of Wirksworth in Derbyshire was ordered to pay a confiscation order of £447,124 or face a further 44 months in jail.
Following an investigation by Humberside Police’s Major Crime Unit, Brough had been convicted in May 2006 of conspiracy to supply heroin and was sentenced to 5 years in jail. The financial investigation into the whereabouts of the proceeds of Brough’s drug dealing was referred to the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART). The officer at the RART successfully identified the whereabouts of Brough’s assets and the judge made what is, to date, the largest confiscation order ever awarded to Humberside Police.
Lorraine Baines, Senior Financial Investigator for Humberside Police stated: “This is an excellent result for Humberside Police, particularly as it is the largest confiscation order awarded to the force. It sends out a clear message to those people who continue to deal in drugs that the custodial sentence is only the first part of their punishment as the courts are willing to use their powers to strip convicted criminals of the assets gained from their criminal lifestyle. Humberside Police are prepared to work alongside the experienced financial investigators at the RART in order to pursue high level drug dealers.”
Confiscation Order for £200,000 made against pensioner
On 20th September 2007, a 60 year old divorcee was ordered to pay a confiscation order of £200,000 in addition to a three year prison sentence
Maureen Elizabeth Abbott worked as a book keeper for a company in Hornsea that supplied gaming equipment to bingo halls. She created fake invoices and wrote company cheques to herself and other family members over a period from December 2001 to January 2006. The value of the stolen monies amounted to £411,087.89.
The investigation into the fraud was conducted by Humberside Police’s Economic Crime Division. After pleading guilty to 19 offences contravening the Theft Act 1968 and a further 78 offences taken into consideration, Abbott was sentenced to three years imprisonment on the 4th of June 2007 at Hull Crown Court.
The investigation into Abbott’s financial affairs was referred by Humberside police to specialist confiscation staff at the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART).
The financial investigation showed that Abbott had lived a “modest” lifestyle, albeit she had acquired two properties and a substantial amount of the stolen monies had been used to fund the lavish lifestyle of her children.
On the 20th of September 2007 at Hull Crown Court, Judge Roger Thorn QC declared that Abbott had benefited from her criminal conduct to the tune of £510,000 and was ordered to pay a confiscation order of £200,000 or face a further two years in prison. The judge commended the RART for their outstanding contribution in this case.
Detective Inspector Paul Welton, Head of the Economic Crime Division, said: "We are pleased with the judge's commendation. The introduction of the Proceeds of Crime Act was to make sure that crime doesn't pay and any assets people get are taken away from them. This is an example of why crime doesn't pay. Not only has she been punished for what she did, but the money she stole is now being recovered."
Chinese Restaurant owners ordered to pay £487,455
This investigation began as a result of an incident in 2000 when a container that had arrived at Dover was found to contain a number of illegal Chinese immigrants who had died during their journey to the UK. Found on one of the deceased was a telephone number which showed a link to the Great Fortune Chinese Restaurant in Messingham, Scunthorpe run by the Lu Xu and David Xu.
As a result Humberside police and immigration officers conducted an investigation into the business and discovered that four illegal Chinese workers were being employed and accommodated by the owners of the restaurant who were subsequently convicted of breaching immigration laws.
The defendants pleaded not guilty, but were convicted following a jury trial at Great Grimsby Crown Court. Although the defendants only received suspended prison sentences, the real punishment came when the court determined at the confiscation hearing that the benefit from their crimes amounted to £954,772. On 15th ovember 2007, Lu Xu and David Xu were ordered to pay £487,455 within six months. Should this amount not be paid the defendants are liable to be sentenced to a term of three years in prison. Furthermore, the defendants remain liable to pay the additional £467,000 for the rest of their lives.