Greedy wife of Hartley continues to deny wrongdoing despite admission

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THE “greedy” wife of a major drug dealer who lived a lavish lifestyle including luxury holidays funded by his ill-gotten-gains has been jailed.

Helen Hartley, 35, who married Alan Tobin at Lake Garda in Italy followed by a two-week £10,000 honeymoon – had admitted possessing criminal property but a court heard that she continues to deny wrongdoing.

Judge Garrett Byrne, who presided over the hearing, said: “It is apparent you blame others and fail to take any responsibility whatsoever for your actions.”

In April Liverpool Crown court heard how brothers Alan and John Tobin’s drug business began to unravel after a massive seizure of drugs on the M6.

Alan Tobin was jailed for 20 years and John sentenced to 19 years and eight months. Both men had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Hartley appeared at the same court with her mum, Ann Hartley and Kathryn Walker, who is the partner of John Tobin.

A total of £220,000 was paid into Helen Hartley’s bank account between January 2016 and September last year but it was accepted she had some legitimate income as a beautician and she was sentenced on the basis that between £120,000 - £150,000 was the proceeds of crime.

But the court heard that Hartley, who only pleaded on the second day of her trial, tried to claim that it came from her husband’s wages as a mental heath nurse and cars he sold.

But Judge Byrne told the court her excuse was “quite frankly ludicrous.”

Judge Byrne said she had “wilfully turned a blind eye” to where the money was coming from and also told her that her previous conviction in October 2019 for fraudulently obtaining council tax “demonstrates what a greedy person you can be.”

He continued, “I am very aware that you have two young children and they have already lost their father to a lengthy term of imprisonment. I reduce your sentence to keep to the absolute minimum the time they are kept away from you.”

Hartley, of Regency Park, Widnes, who is also known by her married name of Ellie Tobin, had £8,665 cash paid into her bank account in June 2016 just before their marriage.

Later that summer a deposit of 3000 Euros was made for an apartment to be purchased in her name in Spain.

The couple, who lived in properties in Widnes and Warrington, spent a week in Dubai in September 2016 during which time £2000 cash was paid into her account. Her phone was used to contact drug dealers and calls to Colombia.

Helen Hartley was jailed for nine months.

Kathryn Walker, 37, whose partner John Tobin, 40, is serving 19 years, eight months, also admitted possessing criminal property and the court heard about their lavish lifestyle and exotic holidays.

Ann Hartley, 63, of Aviemore Road, Old Swan, Liverpool, also admitted that offence involving £96,735.

She was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work and 10 days rehabilitation activities.

Nicola Daley, prosecuting, said that the granny “appeared to be involved in the family business, laundering the proceeds of it.”

She pointed out that she has a previous conviction for possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply in May 2013.

Walker, of Chamomile Close, Norris Green, Liverpool, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work and 15 hours rehabilitation activities.

Miss Daley, said that as well as £97,471 cash paid into Walker’s account there was also other expenditure which brought the total involved to £157,000.

The couple’s foreign trips included staying in an apartment in Portugal for two months in the summer of 2016 and holidays in the Canary Islands. They also had another holiday in Portugal as well as Dubai, Bangkok, Spain and Thailand.

The couple who lived in Manor

Road, Prescot, rented an apartment in Spain and the couple were insured to use a black BMW X6 while stayed near Barcelona.

John Tobin was shot in February last year and taken to hospital by his brother but he did not provide information to police about the incident.

Claire Jones, defending Helen Hartley, said that she is the sole carer for two young children. She had only become aware of what was happening during the later stages of the offence period. Her husband had told her he had a poor credit rating and no bank account so asked to use hers.

Ms Jones said: “Her mum and husband put money into her account and that is when the realisation started to dawning that something more was going on.”

Jo Maxwell, defending Ann Hartley, said that she allowed her bank account to be used but became suspicious when deposits increased in amount and frequency. “She did not regularly check her bank balance which allowed others to use it.”

It was her “loyalty and devotion to the family unit” that allowed it to continue. “There is no evidence of a lavish lifestyle.”

The Tobin brothers supplied well-known gangs in the north west and other parts of the UK with drugs. The brothers were said to be supplying ‘huge amounts’ of cocaine to Warrington OCG leaders Anthony Cullen, 33, and 30-year-old Jamie Oldroyd – who both headed a heavily armed drug gang.

The Tobins had men trading primarily in cocaine, but also in heroin, cannabis and ketamine delivering to other gangs in Manchester, West Yorkshire, Cumbria, Humberside, North Wales, Cornwall, London and Scotland.

They were arrested after police