This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/7540972.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 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, Preston Crown 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" at Homebase and B&Q stores. | |
| 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 Gibbons Avenue, 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 | |
| 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. |
| In 2005, he pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to four counts of obtaining property by deception, with 35 other offences to be taken into consideration. | In 2005, he pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to four counts of obtaining property by deception, with 35 other offences to be taken into consideration. |
| 'Appalling record' | 'Appalling record' |
| Peter McNaught, prosecuting, said police later found large amounts of money in Castle's then-partner Elaine Rogers's accounts, which were funding "a lavish lifestyle". | Peter McNaught, prosecuting, said police later found large amounts of money in Castle's then-partner Elaine Rogers's accounts, which were funding "a lavish lifestyle". |
| Both were arrested on suspicion of money laundering in April 2006 and later bailed, but Castle was arrested again three months later after the doorknob incident in Altrincham. | Both were arrested on suspicion of money laundering in April 2006 and later bailed, but Castle was arrested again three months later after the doorknob incident in Altrincham. |
| 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 till roll was found by officers at his home. | |
| Castle was again released on bail and went on the run. He was eventually arrested as he got out of a hired BMW X5 on a car park in the village of Burton Joyce, near Nottingham, in February 2008. | Castle was again released on bail and went on the run. He was eventually arrested as he got out of a hired BMW X5 on a car park in the village of Burton Joyce, near Nottingham, in February 2008. |
| 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 has an appalling set of antecedents and he admits he has wasted his life," said Mr Whitehurst. | "He has an appalling set of antecedents and he admits he has wasted his life," said Mr Whitehurst. |
| Refunds policy changed | |
| 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. |
| Despite the attention on Castle, Det Con Dot Walker, of Lancashire Police, said his ex-partner also played a part in the con. | Despite the attention on Castle, Det Con Dot Walker, of Lancashire Police, said his ex-partner also played a part in the con. |
| "She was spending on a massive scale at places such as Harrods and Claridges in London," said Ms Walker. | "She was spending on a massive scale at places such as Harrods and Claridges in London," said Ms Walker. |
| "Castle and Rogers have lived the high life for many years, living off the proceeds of crime." | "Castle and Rogers have lived the high life for many years, living off the proceeds of crime." |
| Both are now subject to confiscation investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Mrs Walker added. | Both are now subject to confiscation investigations under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Mrs Walker added. |
| Welcoming the conviction, a B&Q spokesperson said: "Since this fraud was initially detected we have substantially changed our refunds policy, which makes replicating this kind of fraudulent activity much more difficult. | |
| "We continue to take fraud and all kinds of theft extremely seriously and co-operate with the authorities wherever we can." |