Drug dealers, fraudsters and a murderer are among those being forced to repay their illicitly earned cash and belongings, as specialist financial investigators continue to target the wealth of convicted criminals.
Offenders across the east of England have been forced to repay more than £5 million since April 2022, following work by the Eastern Region Special Operation Unit (ERSOU) Financial Investigation Team.
Across 117 separate investigations, cash, expensive vehicles and other items have been seized from drug dealers, fraudsters, murderers, and money launderers.
This includes a Bedfordshire man who has had assets totalling £208,335 confiscated.
Gary Pickersgill was convicted for the theft of £1.9 million worth of antiques from an elderly woman in Bedford. He was previously jailed for eight years in September 2021.
Read: “Sly and dastardly” thieves ordered to pay back proceeds of crime to Bedford widow
Senior Financial Investigation Manager Paul Fitsimmons said: “Our teams’ work to strip criminals of their illicit earnings never stops; we have specialist financial investigators committed to confiscating the cash, assets and expensive belongings of criminals who have profited from the misery of others.
“Often our investigations can be protracted and complex, but we will continue to tirelessly target those behind some of the most serious criminality across the region.
“I’d like to pay tribute to the diligent work of our investigators for their commitment to ensuring that crime doesn’t pay.”
Other highlights from across the region include:
- Cambridgeshire: following a conviction for conspiracy to burgle, possession of a firearm and handling stolen property, Simon Oakley was ordered to repay more than £183,000. This will be paid in compensation to his burglary victims.
- Hertfordshire: Ian Stewart was jailed for life in February 2022 for the murder of his wife Diane and benefitted £398,761 from his crime. He was ordered to pay £185,173 in compensation to the victim’s family.
- Norfolk: Adam and Andrew Gallagher, two brothers convicted of money laundering were found to have made £200,000 through their criminal activities. They were ordered to repay this or face an additional two years in prison.
- Suffolk: Miroslav Pesko ran an organised crime group which stole vans throughout East Anglia, London, and the Home Counties. He was convicted of conspiracy to steal and was found to have assets in Russia worth over £211,000.
In cases where individuals have been the victim of fraud, and where the team has been able to secure money back from the offenders who were responsible, this is often given straight back to the victim in compensation.
Where offenders do not pay back the money required as part of a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) court order, they face extended periods in jail and are still required to pay back the full amount.
Sometimes if cash is not available, assets such as property, Rolex watches, and vehicles are seized.
