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| Jail for 'millionaire shoplifter' | Jail for 'millionaire shoplifter' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man police dubbed "the millionaire shoplifter" has been jailed for more than two years for money laundering. | A man police dubbed "the millionaire shoplifter" has been jailed for more than two years for money laundering. |
| Kevin Castle, of Nottingham, obtained refunds for shoplifted goods from DIY stores in north-west England and the Midlands, the court heard. | Kevin Castle, of Nottingham, obtained refunds for shoplifted goods from DIY stores in north-west England and the Midlands, the court heard. |
| Castle was wanted by police forces in Lancashire, Nottingham and Greater Manchester, when he was caught. | Castle was wanted by police forces in Lancashire, Nottingham and Greater Manchester, when he was caught. |
| At Preston Crown Court, Castle, 43, admitted money laundering and was jailed for 28 months. | At Preston Crown Court, Castle, 43, admitted money laundering and was jailed for 28 months. |
| Height boosted | Height boosted |
| Lancashire Police said Castle prompted "a complex and protracted enquiry" with "crimes committed all over the UK". | |
| Detectives believe he was making between £500 and £1,000 a day from as far back as 2004 as he drove around the country claiming numerous refunds. | Detectives believe he was making between £500 and £1,000 a day from as far back as 2004 as he drove around the country claiming numerous refunds. |
| He used a variety of disguises, posing as a electrical engineer, alarm fitter and property developer. | He used a variety of disguises, posing as a electrical engineer, alarm fitter and property developer. |
| The court heard he even wore blocks in his shoes to boost his height of 5ft 5in. | The court heard he even wore blocks in his shoes to boost his height of 5ft 5in. |
| Castle, of Stapleford, was finally caught as he tried to exchange a packet of doorknobs at the Homebase branch in Altrincham. | Castle, of Stapleford, was finally caught as he tried to exchange a packet of doorknobs at the Homebase branch in Altrincham. |
| He has an appalling set of antecedents and he admits he has wasted his life Ian WhitehurstDefending | He has an appalling set of antecedents and he admits he has wasted his life Ian WhitehurstDefending |
| He ran outside as staff became suspicious and was found hiding nearby and a search of his Jaguar uncovered 28 packets of Homebase doorknobs and a map highlighting 300 store locations in the North of England and the Midlands. | |
| A complete till roll was found by officers at his home. | |
| The court heard Castle spent £140,000 gained from the scam using it to stay in a five-star hotel, rent a luxury apartment and hire top-of-the-range cars. | The court heard Castle spent £140,000 gained from the scam using it to stay in a five-star hotel, rent a luxury apartment and hire top-of-the-range cars. |
| He booked a 28-night stay at Claridge's Hotel in London and hired expensive cars including a Porsche Cayenne and several Jaguars. | He booked a 28-night stay at Claridge's Hotel in London and hired expensive cars including a Porsche Cayenne and several Jaguars. |
| Castle's fraud first came to the attention of Lancashire Police in 2004 when he tried to get a refund using a fraudulent receipt at B&Q store in Bamber Bridge, Preston. | Castle's fraud first came to the attention of Lancashire Police in 2004 when he tried to get a refund using a fraudulent receipt at B&Q store in Bamber Bridge, Preston. |
| He escaped but was detained soon after in Nottinghamshire after attempting the same deception. | He escaped but was detained soon after in Nottinghamshire after attempting the same deception. |
| Police inquiries revealed he had targeted Homebase and B&Q stores since 2004. | Police inquiries revealed he had targeted Homebase and B&Q stores since 2004. |
| A year later he pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to four counts of obtaining property by deception, with 35 other offences to be taken into consideration. | A year later he pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to four counts of obtaining property by deception, with 35 other offences to be taken into consideration. |
| Peter McNaught, prosecuting, said police found large amounts of money in Castle's then-partner Elaine Roger's accounts, which were funding "a lavish lifestyle". | Peter McNaught, prosecuting, said police found large amounts of money in Castle's then-partner Elaine Roger's accounts, which were funding "a lavish lifestyle". |
| Three months later, Castle, of Gibbons Avenue, was arrested in Altrincham. A complete till roll was found by officers at his home. | Three months later, Castle, of Gibbons Avenue, was arrested in Altrincham. A complete till roll was found by officers at his home. |
| 'Appalling record' | 'Appalling record' |
| Castle went on the run and he was eventually arrested as he got out of a hired BMW X5 sports car on a car park in the village of Burton Joyce, near Nottingham, in February this year. | Castle went on the run and he was eventually arrested as he got out of a hired BMW X5 sports car on a car park in the village of Burton Joyce, near Nottingham, in February this year. |
| A week later, Rogers, 47, of Chad Gardens, Nottingham was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, at Preston Crown Court for money laundering. | A week later, Rogers, 47, of Chad Gardens, Nottingham was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, at Preston Crown Court for money laundering. |
| Ian Whitehurst, defending, said Castle now wanted to start a new life. | Ian Whitehurst, defending, said Castle now wanted to start a new life. |
| He said: "He plans to obtain lawful employment and settle down with his new partner. | He said: "He plans to obtain lawful employment and settle down with his new partner. |
| "He has an appalling set of antecedents and he admits he has wasted his life." | "He has an appalling set of antecedents and he admits he has wasted his life." |
| Sentencing him Judge Phillip Sycamore said: "You have an appalling record of offending, almost exclusively for offences of dishonesty." | Sentencing him Judge Phillip Sycamore said: "You have an appalling record of offending, almost exclusively for offences of dishonesty." |
| Lancashire police said Castle continues to be investigated by Nottinghamshire Police regarding a number of separate deception offences. | Lancashire police said Castle continues to be investigated by Nottinghamshire Police regarding a number of separate deception offences. |