A Lancashire couple who stole six lorry loads of Easter eggs have been ordered to pay back more than £1million of their criminal gains.
Husband and wife, Paul Lee, 35, and Sharon Martin-Lee, 36, both of Nicholas Road, Blundellsands, Crosby, pleaded guilty to money laundering on 31 October 2007 following an investigation by the North West Regional Asset Recovery Team (NWRART) – a regional unit, which plays a critical role in reducing crime through asset recovery.
It came after Paul Lee pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for seven years in November 2007 for his part in stealing six lorry loads of Easter eggs in Skelmersdale.
He was sentenced to an additional year in prison for money laundering and his wife was given a 180-hour unpaid community service order.
At Preston Crown Court on Friday, it was ruled that the money had come from criminal conduct. The judge set Lee’s benefit at £619,196.60 and Martin-Lee’s benefit at £409,120.05.
Their current assets were assessed and confiscation orders were made against each of them for the full amount of the benefit – totalling £1,028,316.65.
The pair must pay the money back in full within six months. If they fail to pay it back within the timescale, Lee could face four years in prison and Martin-Lee could face three and a half years in prison.
Det Sgt Mark Unsworth from the North West Regional Asset Recovery Team (NWRART) said: “This pair led a luxurious lifestyle – they had a large house, drove expensive cars and had exotic holidays – all funded through criminality. To satisfy this order, the pair will have to sell their current assets.
“If we find criminals with assets or cash that they cannot account for, we will use the law to seize those assets or cash so they are unable to enjoy the proceeds of their criminality.
“It is not right that criminals should profit from their offending and have a lifestyle that is funded solely or partly by crime. We will investigate the finances of those people we suspect have obtained assets illegally and work with the Crown Prosecution Service through the courts to confiscate those assets.”
On 3 October 2004 security guards were approached at the Great Bear Distribution Centre on Stanley Industrial Estate.
They were tied up and driven to a field whilst six lorry trailers, containing Easter eggs were stolen. The estimated value of the stolen trailers and Easter eggs was £690,000 and the retail value for the Easter eggs alone was £120,000.
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