OAP crook isn't so flush now after being forced to hand over £500,000 found stashed in his toilet cistern

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:49 PM on 24th August 2010

 

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A pensioner who was unable to explain how he came across £500,000 in cash found stashed around his toilet cistern has been ordered to hand over the money.

The money was uncovered after Peter Wells, 70, who spent four years in jail for drug dealing, was stopped by police for a minor motoring offence in Kent.

 

Police discovered he was carrying £80,000 in his holdall and when asked to explain the money, he said it was to buy something 'like a pair of trousers'.

Mystery: Police found £500,000 stashed in the toilet cistern panelling of pensioner Peter Wells's property

 

 

Stash: Some of the money found in the chalet home of 70-year-old Wells, including £51,000 stuffed in a wardrobe

 

Wells was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and police searches led to the discovery of more money - including £500,000 stashed in a carefully constructed void around the toilet cistern at his chalet home at All Hallows Holiday Park on the Isle of Grain.

A wardrobe in the chalet contained £51,000.

 

BY HIS OWN ACCOUNT: MR WELLS AND HIS CASH...

 

When asked to explain the hundreds of thousands of pounds in his possession, the pensioner had all the answers.

£80,000 in a holdall?

To buy something 'like a pair of trousers'.

£500,000 in the cistern?

He won £100,000 of it on the Dream Number lottery - and the rest was 'expensive sound insulation'.

Mr Wells also said some of the money was from a scaffold hire business that he ran, and that more than £200,000 belonged to a 'rich city trader'.

 

 

 

Wells, of Cranham, Essex, said he won £100,000 on the Dream Number lottery but could give no explanation as to where the rest came from - saying it was 'expensive sound insulation'.

 

He was acquitted of money laundering following a five-day trial in September 2009.

During the trial, Wells said some of the money was from a scaffold hire business that he ran, and that more than £200,000 belonged to a 'rich city trader' who he would not identify.

 

Police later applied for the forfeiture of the cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act, and this has now been granted.

Wells did not challenge the application, and was ordered to hand over £632,400, as well as the £49,749 in interest it had accrued.

 

He was also told to pay back a further £81,752 from a previously unpaid confiscation order.

 

 

Detective Constable Michael Prior, from the Kent Police Serious Economic Crime Unit, said: 'This is an excellent example of how a simple police stop check and search procedures can evolve into a detailed investigation into organised criminality.'

 

'Although Wells was not convicted at court initially, by using Proceeds of Crime legislation we were able to remove a substantial amount of cash and assets which we believe resulted from criminal activity.'

 

'We want criminals to know that crime does not pay and that in Kent we will use every opportunity and legislation available to us to make sure they don't profit from their crimes. '

 

In total, he has now paid £763,901 in confiscation orders

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1305638/Pensioner-ordered-hand-500-000-stashed-toilet-cistern.html#ixzz0xYPETAoq

That's a lot of fiftys

That's a lot of fiftys

 

A shitload?:rolleyes:

Bit mean to take the guys money really.

Bit mean to take the guys money really.

 

Even if it's drug money?

Yes

A shitload?:rolleyes:

:laugh3:

:rolleyes:

Even if it's drug money?

 

No,it would probably be better off in his walls than paying for some Government or Council tea party which it most likely will now.

No,it would probably be better off in his walls than paying for some Government or Council tea party which it most likely will now.

 

Bingo.

 

But we can't let little people have money! We have to protect the rich bankers and politicians.

Council tea party

They have Earl Grey in some councils, horrible horrible stuff!