Taking the profit out of crime

30/08/2005

Prosecutors in Derbyshire have successfully recovered over £2.5 million acquired as a result of criminal activity in the space of just twelve months.

Figures released following the publication of its latest Annual Report show that between April 2004 and March 2005 Derbyshire Crown Prosecution Service confiscated a total of £2,642,772 worth of criminal assets.  Commenting on the findings Chief Crown Prosecutor Brian Gunn said:

"The introduction of the Proceeds of Crime Act back in 2002 gave our prosecutors significant powers to recover illegally gained assets, bringing to a halt the extravagant lifestyles enjoyed by criminals at the expense of victims of crime.

"Where criminals have profited financially from their activities the law enables us to hit them hard twice over; once when they're sentenced by the courts and then again by confiscating the proceeds of their crime to ensure they don't continue to profit from their ill-gotten gains once they're released.

"The CPS is committed to working with the courts to relieve criminals of their illegally gained assets and we hope the figures published today send out the message loud and clear that crime definitely does not pay."

By far the biggest confiscation order issued by Derbyshire CPS over the year related to the prosecution of Wayne Broadhead.  Broadhead was apprehended by police after he was caught leaving a petrol station on a fourth occasion without paying for the fuel.

Those four crimes involved petrol valued at £219 but sparked a complex financial investigation that eventually cost Broadhead £1,566,911.  Following his arrest a more detailed examination of his finances revealed thousands of pounds had been illegally channelled through his 16 UK bank accounts and a further account in Geneva.

At the confiscation hearing last year Broadhead, who was jailed for 27 months on four counts of stealing petrol, was given a year to pay the £1.5 million.

"This is a good example of how a small case can escalate and result in action to ensure criminals dont benefit from their activities" said Gillian Foxcroft, the CPS lawyer who reviewed the theft case.