A Wilmslow man convicted of money laundering offences in July has now faced the financial consequence of his crime.
Liam Cox, 23, from Woodcott Grove, was arrested in September last year for offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act. At the time he was arrested, Cox was in possession of almost £1000 cash and the keys for a Mercedes.
As part of the complex police investigation, a number of cash deposits were found to have been made into his bank account which Cox was unable to account for, similarly he was unable to provide explanation for how he met the purchase cost of his car.
Cox was subsequently charged with money laundering offences and convicted at Chester Crown Court in July this year.
A confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act was heard on Friday, 19th December. The assets for confiscation amounted to £965 cash and the Mercedes, a total value of nearly £10,000.
The Mercedes now has a temporary home at the front of Wilmslow Police Station - serving as a warning to those involving themselves in crime that Cheshire Police will do all they can to bring offenders to justice and ensure that "crime doesn't pay".
Sgt Miller said "This is just one example of the many cars and expensive valuable items that Cheshire Police have seized this year when it is suspected that they have been acquired through ill-gotten gains and criminal behaviour.
"If you are involved in crime and think that you will benefit from it then you need to think again. We seize more and more assets every year, ploughing the proceeds back into the Criminal Justice system for the benefit of the community, and our aim is to make it as difficult as possible for anyone to benefit from crime."
