A man from Norton St Philip, near Bath, who was convicted of money laundering and fraud offences has been ordered by a court to pay back more than a million pounds.
Taunton Crown Court yesterday heard that Peter Martin had benefited from crime by £1,204,143.58. He was ordered to repay the money, which represents the total assets still available to him.
He will lose his £900,000 house, £373,700 in cash seized by police from his home and £17,000 he gifted to someone else
The confiscation hearing is the latest stage of a detailed fraud investigation into Martin, aged 68, who is currently serving a seven-year jail sentence.
Police executed a warrant at his home, Barnfield, Chatley Furlong, Norton St Philip on July 30, 2008. During a detailed search of his house officers found £25,000 cash hidden under the stairs, £5,000 in a bedroom and approximately £350,000 in cash hidden in the garage.
The money was found hidden around his home
Forensic testing of some of the money found higher than normal levels of heroin on the bank notes. As a result of the search and other detailed enquiries, police believed that Martin was living off the proceeds of crime and he was charged with three offences.
On January 21st, 2011 he was sentenced to nine years, reduced to seven on appeal, in prison after being convicted of concealing criminal property, converting criminal property and obtaining a money transfer by deception.
Dr Kirstie Cogram, Manager of the Avon & Somerset Constabulary’s Financial Investigation Unit, said: “Peter Martin had no declared income but lived a lavish lifestyle and refurbished his home to a very high standard, using the proceeds of crime which represents money made from other people’s misery. We are committed to seizing all assets that criminals have gained as a result of crime.
“It is not acceptable that criminals benefit from illegal activities and we will relentlessly pursue them through the courts to ensure all their money is taken. By doing this we will show criminals that they will not benefit from crime and hopefully deter others from entering a life of crime.”
If Martin fails to pay the money within six months he will serve an extra five years on his sentence and will still be required to pay the money on his release.
One in seven people knows someone living off the proceeds of crime. For more information on making criminals pay visit www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/payback or call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org. They never ask for your name or trace your call.
