Confiscation orders obtained against crime family who netted £675,000
The head of a family, Dan Ward now aged 60, cheated an OAP from Sheffield out of £22,400 which represented her life savings by persuading her that her house needed work doing to it. He pocketed the cash after doing a superficial job.
Ward lived with his daughter, Muriel Maughan, now aged 40 in Nottinghamshire. Maughan netted £156,000 in benefit to which she was not entitled; some of this amount was acquired as a result of claiming that Ward was her tenant rather than her father. The pair insisted throughout their trial that they were not related but this was disproved by DNA evidence.
South Yorkshire police led the investigation and following the successful conviction two years ago resulting in a prison sentence of 5 years for Ward and a community service order for Maughan; the pair have been ordered to pay back their ill-gotten gains.
The North East Regional Asset Recovery team assisted South Yorkshire Police by continuing the confiscation investigation on their behalf. This investigation concluded earlier last week when The Recorder, Brian Cox QC, ruled at Sheffield Crown Court that Ward had benefitted by at least £517,500 from the proceeds of his crimes. Ward’s assets include a Jaguar and a Mercedes car, two properties in Nottinghamshire, a caravan, a transit van and funds in several bank accounts.
Maughan was judged to have made £156,000 from frauds involving housing benefit and council tax payments.
Mr Cox said that there was little evidence that either of them had an honest job and identified that neither were registered with the Inland Revenue or paid any tax.
Mr Cox said “Dan Ward was prepared to go to considerable lengths to conceal the true state of his affairs – I am in no doubt he is a thoroughly dishonest man”
Ward was ordered to pay back £331,500, which includes £22,400 to be paid in compensation to the Sheffield pensioner and £13,000 to Ashfield District Council. He has to pay up within 6 months or face an additional 39 months imprisonment.
Maughan was ordered to repay £125,000 within 6 months or face a default prison sentence of just over 2 years.
Serving the default prison sentences is not an alternative to paying the orders as the full amount of the orders with interest will still be due when they are released.
After the hearing, DC Craig Law who is seconded to the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team confiscation unit stated “Dan Ward preyed on and took advantage of an elderly and vulnerable lady”.
This case is another example of how the legislation can be used to remove the assets that have been accumulated from the proceeds of crime to benefit the victims as well as the community.