Latest news with #ProceedsofCrimeAct2002
Glasgow Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Disgraced lawyer from Kilmacolm can't attend court date due to wedding
Iain Robertson, 71, told judge Olga Pasportnikov on Monday that he wouldn't be able to be present for a proceeds of crime case on June 23, 2025. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that this was because he was a guest at a marriage ceremony on the same day. Robertson, who is representing himself in a bid by the Crown to recover money he made from a £1.5 million laundering racket, told judge Pasportnikov: 'I'm on home leave for a wedding that day. I have a week of home leave every month.' Robertson, of Kilmacolm, is currently the subject of an action brought by prosecutors under proceeds of crime laws. Robertson was given eight years in January 2023. He and two other corrupt solicitors - Alistair Blackwood, 69, and David Lyons - used their law firm Robertson & Ross in Paisley to launder cash obtained illegally. The trio acted alongside Mohammed Aziz, 63, and Robert Ferguson, 69, in a course of criminal activity. The five men were sentenced following a nine-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow before judge Lord Richardson. READ MORE: Man made £442k in ill-gotten gains during time as drug dealer The trial was the culmination of a process which had been triggered by a Law Society probe into activities at the firm. They were convicted of fraud and multiple charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Robertson, Lyons and Aziz were also convicted on charges of being involved in serious organised crime. All were sent to prison. Prosecutors told jurors the case centred on four transactions carried out between May 2015 and July 2016. The first transaction involved a £79,340 stolen cheque due to be paid to a law firm in Jersey. The next centred on £240,000 from a fraudulent house sale in London. The third transaction saw £985,000 stolen from the hacked bank account of an individual. And the final illegal activity was uncovered after Robertson claimed to be acting for a man who wanted to sell his home in Essex. READ MORE: Four men jailed after £6m corruption and bribery probe at health boards The court heard that the "seller" was said to be staying at a flat that turned out to be Ferguson's address. A total of £181,786 was made from the fraudulent sale. In each transaction, the proceeds were funnelled through the client bank account held by Robertson's firm in Paisley, Robertson & Ross. Limited and false records were created to make them appear legitimate. Fake papers and fake IDs - including a passport and driver's licence - were collated in a bid to cover up the crimes. The Law Society raised concerns about several of these transactions before alerting police to the potential illegal activity. The trial heard that lawyer Robertson, who has been suspended by the Law Society along with Blackwood, was at the heart of the money-laundering scheme since he had access to his firm's client account. Judge Pasportnikov fixed a hearing in the proceeds case to take place on June 30, 2025.
STV News
8 hours ago
- Business
- STV News
Disgraced lawyer 'can't attend court hearing due to wedding'
A disgraced lawyer serving time for money laundering can't attend court for a hearing as he's attending a wedding on the same day, a judge heard. Iain Robertson, 71, told judge Olga Pasportnikov on Monday that he wouldn't be able present for a proceeds of crime case on June 23. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that this was because he was a guest at a marriage ceremony on the same day. Robertson, who is representing himself in a bid by the Crown to recover money he made from a £1.5m laundering racket, told judge Pasportnikov: 'I'm on home leave for a wedding that day. I have a week of home leave every month.' Robertson, of Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, is currently the subject of an action brought by prosecutors under proceeds of crime laws. Robertson was given eight years in January 2023. He and two other corrupt solicitors – Alistair Blackwood, 69, and David Lyons – used their law firm Robertson & Ross in Paisley, Renfrewshire, to launder cash obtained illegally. The trio acted alongside Mohammed Aziz, 63, and Robert Ferguson, 69, in a course of criminal activity. The five men were sentenced following a nine week trial at the High Court in Glasgow before judge Lord Richardson. The trial was the culmination of a process which had been triggered by a Law Society probe into activities at the firm. They were convicted of fraud and multiple charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Robertson, Lyons and Aziz were also convicted on charges of being involved in serious organised crime. All were sent to prison. Prosecutors told jurors the case centred on four transactions carried out between May 2015 and July 2016. The first transaction involved a £79,340 stolen cheque due to be paid to a law firm in Jersey. The next centred on £240,000 from a fraudulent house sale in London. The third transaction saw £985,000 stolen from the hacked bank account of an individual. And the final illegal activity was uncovered after Robertson claimed to be acting for a man who wanted to sell his home in Essex. The court heard that the 'seller' was said to be staying at a flat that turned out to be Ferguson's address. A total of £181,786 was made from the fraudulent sale. In each transaction, the proceeds were funnelled through the client bank account held by Robertson's firm in Paisley, Robertson & Ross Limited, and false records were created to make them appear legitimate. Fake papers and fake IDs – including a passport and driver's licence – were collated in a bid to cover up the crimes. The Law Society raised concerns about several of these transactions before alerting police to the potential illegal activity. The trial heard that lawyer Robertson, who has been suspended by the Law Society along with Blackwood, was at the heart of the money-laundering scheme since he had access to his firm's client account. Judge Pasportnikov fixed a hearing in the proceeds case to take place on June 30, 2025. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Pembrokeshire Herald
20-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Carmarthenshire man prosecuted for illegal dog breeding
A MAN from Pencader has been convicted for operating an illegal dog breeding business following a prosecution brought to Swansea Crown Court by the local authority. Marc Jones, of 1 Golwg yr Ogof, Pencader, SA39 9HS, was found to have engaged in unlicensed dog breeding activity, in breach of animal welfare and licensing laws. The case was concluded at Swansea Crown Court on 17 April 2025. The investigation began in December 2021, when Mr Jones was first contacted by the council with a formal letter outlining the legal requirements surrounding dog breeding, including the need for a proper licence. Despite further action, including the provision of an application form and an information pack sent on 10 May 2023, Mr Jones failed to submit any application to regularise his activities. Evidence gathered from multiple online advertising platforms showed that Mr Jones had bred more than three litters of puppies within a 12-month period – clearly exceeding the legal threshold requiring a licence. Investigators also found that breeding and sales continued despite the advice and interventions from council officers. As a result of the investigation, and under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the court determined that Mr Jones financially benefited from the criminal activity, assessing an amount of £100,000. Mr Jones has been ordered to repay this amount within three months or face a 12-month default sentence. In addition, the court imposed a 12-month conditional discharge in lieu of a separate financial penalty. Mr Jones was also ordered to pay the statutory victim surcharge. Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability – Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen said: 'This case demonstrates the council's commitment to upholding animal welfare standards and ensuring that dog breeding is conducted responsibly and legally. Despite repeated attempts to advise Mr Jones and encourage compliance, he chose to ignore the law and profit without regard for regulation or animal welfare.' Residents are reminded that anyone involved in breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect the welfare of animals and consumers alike.
South Wales Argus
25-04-2025
- South Wales Argus
Caerphilly man and woman charged with dog breeding fraud
Daniel Jordan Davies, 34, and Taryn Elizabeth Davies, 59, both from Caerphilly county are accused of fraud between March 20, 2021 and March 19, 2024. Both have also been charged with alleged offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Daniel Jordan Davies, of Bryn Seion Street, Rhymney is alone accused of unlicensed dog breeding while trading as TriLine Bullys. Neither he nor Taryn Elizabeth Davies, of Heol Evan Wynne, Pontlottyn entered any pleas. Their case was committed to the crown court where they are due to appear on May 16. The defendants were granted unconditional bail.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Convicted drug dealer ordered to hand over £425,000 of dirty cash
A convicted drug dealer who was caught with class A drugs on the M6 has been ordered to hand over more than £425,000 of dirty cash. Gary Boone was stopped on the M6 southbound near Knutsford and found with £50,000 worth of cocaine. During their investigation, police uncovered the 62-year-old's funds, having made hundreds of thousands of pounds in ill-gotten gains. READ MORE: Morrisons confirms closure of 17 stores - full list and dates READ MORE: RSPCA issues statement after two horses die after racing at Grand National 2025 Boone, who is serving a four-year prison sentence, has now been ordered to pay a huge sum of money back to the state - which will now be spent on frontline policing. Boone was jailed at Chester Crown Court back on September 21, 2023, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs (cocaine) and possession of class B drugs (cannabis). It was heard that in July 2023, Merseyside Police believed a car being driven by Boone may have been transporting drugs. Boone's grey Mazda CX-5 was later spotted by officers from Cheshire's roads and crime unit on the M6 motorway, travelling southbound near Knutsford. After searching the car, police found a sack and sandwich bag, both containing quantities of white powder, and a small cellophane wrap containing cannabis. Officers also seized a quantity of cash and a mobile phone. Boone was arrested and the substances were examined by forensic officers. They were confirmed to be 500g of cocaine, with an estimated street value of up to £50,000. The substance found in the sandwich bag was also confirmed as cocaine, with an estimated street value of up to £1,350. Following his conviction, accredited financial investigators from Cheshire Police's economic crime unit launched a confiscation investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. They uncovered that Boone had more than £150,000.00 that was being kept outside of the UK in an overseas bank account in Bangkok. When added to the cash seized by police and Boone's other property, his total assets amounted to £179,490.00. In total, their investigation determined that Boone, of West Street, Bridgwater, Somerset, had received well over £380,000 into his bank account through the dealing of class A and B drugs. A confiscation hearing took place at Chester Crown Court on Monday (April 7), where officers were successful in obtaining an order for £425,169.10 - an estimated value of Boone's crimes, that will stay with him for life or until it has all been paid off. Financial Investigator Kirsten Jones, who led the confiscation investigation, said: "Gary Boone, who is still serving a four-year sentence as a consequence of his actions, will have the cloud of this £425,000-plus payment hanging over his head for the rest of his days, or until he has been able to pay the full amount off. "The confiscation order we have been able to secure against Boone today is the work of an extensive investigation from our financial investigators that sends a clear message that the constabulary's economic crime unit takes the recovery of the proceeds of criminals' ill-gotten gains very seriously to ensure dealers like him do not benefit from their illegal activities." Detective Sergeant Keeley Powles, of the economic crime unit, added: "The fantastic investigation by FI Jones means that the £179,490.00 worth of assets found within the offshore bank account is now available and will be paid immediately. "This is a huge amount and it's rare in cases to find such high value assets that we are able to strip away from the criminals. "We will continue to use the Proceeds of Crime Act's asset recovery powers to work tirelessly to hit those who engage in the supply of drugs and over criminality and strip them of the wealth they have derived from their illicit activities."
