Police raise £700k on eBay

SALES INCLUDE ASSETS SEIZED FROM CRIMINALS

POLICE have raised more than £700,000 by using eBay to sell luxury items seized from criminals.

Lots sold online by the Leicestershire force included two BMWs and a Mercedes, designer clothes, jewellery and china.

A police spokesman cited as an example: “In November, three members of a gang who were convicted for their part in a string of attacks on ATMs across the county were issued with confiscation orders.

“Charlie Smith, Alfred Adams, and John Doran had been convicted in April 2018 and sentenced to more than 30 years between them.”

The three-month burglary spree, included Lutterworth post office, Cosby Co-op and Hinckley’s Tesco Express, and left an £800,000 trail of destruction.

All three men admitted eight counts of burglary, three of unlawfully and maliciously causing an explosion of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious damage to property, and one count of theft.

Smith, formerly of Mere Lane, Bitteswell, was ordered to pay back £240,756; Adams, 41, formerly of Bickershaw Lane, Wigan, £257,213; and Doran, 21 , formerly of Gelderd Road, Gildersome, Leeds, £215,518.

The force spokesman said: “During the investigation a number of items were seized from the defendants, including a Mercedes E350D AMG, a BMW X5, a BMW 1 Series, designer clothing, Crown Royal

Derby China and high-value jewellery.

“These goods were all sold using the force’s eBay account.”

In total, under the Proceeds of Crime Act between April 2019 and

March this year, more than £700,000 was confiscated from criminals.

If criminals fail to pay the value of the order they can have additional years added to their sentences.

The eBay site is also used to sell surplus police goods and items that have been recovered during an investigation and not been claimed or reunited with their owners.

Paul Wenlock of the force’s Economic Crime Unit (ECU), said: “Our work doesn’t end at an individual’s conviction.

“If there is evidence to suggest the defendant has gained financially from their criminality we can approach the courts for confiscation orders under the Act.

“In the year 2018/19 we confiscated more than £330,000. In 2019/20 that figure has almost doubled.

“These figures are a testament to the hard work of members of the ECU team, their tenacity and attention to detail.

“We will continue to use this legislation and ensure those who choose to take the path of criminality should not be allowed to benefit.”