Who says that crime doesn’t pay?
Shameless boast in holiday snap of jailed conman’s wife
THE wife of a convicted fraud-ster has sparked fury after a photo of her on holiday was posted online with the caption: ‘Who says crime doesn’t pay?’
Lynne Graver posed for the image just two weeks after Barry Spearing was jailed for six years over a multi-million pound investment scam.
Elderly and vulnerable victims were cold called by a gang who pressurised them into investing £3million in bogus companies and schemes. one 83-year-old victim lost more than £1million.
But Mrs Graver, 54, appears unaffected by the misery her husband has caused in the photo posted by a friend on facebook. It shows her smiling and looking bronzed and relaxed as she perches on a wicker sofa on a sunny patio in Pilar de la Horadada in Alicante, Spain.
A comment written alongside the photo said: ‘Loving my bes-tie staying with me Lynne Graver – laughing so much! Who says crime doesn’t pay.’ It was followed by three laughing emo-jis and the hashtag #lifeisgreat.
Angry responses online included one saying: ‘ I am utterly disgusted that they think this is a laughing matter.’
Mrs Graver, an antiques dealer, from Stutton, Suffolk, was not involved in her husband’s offences. However, police say they are looking to seize assets belonging to Spearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The gang conned 50 people between 2014 and 2016. Some victims made several payments after being told they had to pay fees to release their assets. The fraudsters used company names often similar to those of genuine ones and the businesses were registered at two London offices to add an air of legitimacy.
Spearing, 58, who is also an antiques dealer, was involved in the money laundering side of the scam, recruiting ‘mules’ who set up bank accounts through which cash was moved.
detectives have admitted they will struggle to get any of the money back as it went abroad to Cyprus and Hong Kong.
But detective Chief Inspector Martin Peters, of the eastern region special operations unit, said: ‘We can confirm confisca-tion proceedings are ongoing in relation to Barry Spearing.
‘This will include looking at what assets he has available, such as properties, cars and cash, and if – and to what extent – he benefited financially from the crimes he committed.’
one victim, who lost £300,000, said after the sentencing at Southwark Crown Court: ‘The financial loss has had a signifi-cant impact on my family and a Jet set: Lynne Graver in Spain and, left, the Facebook post longer-term impact on not being able to provide for them.’
Mrs Graver and the friend who posted the photo have not responded to requests for a comment. But a colleague at her business, Graver Antiques and Interiors, in Stutton, yes-terday said ‘I agree’ when asked if the photo was ill-advised and she should apologise.
Mrs Graver and her husband were accused of being involved in the theft of £120,000 of stolen antiques in december 2015.
Spearing, who denied theft, and Mrs Graver, who denied handling stolen goods, were cleared of the charges. Spearing said at the time he was glad ‘justice had prevailed’.