Money launderer had illegal bar in his back garden

A money launderer processed £107,000 of cash over three years by using an illegal bar and social club in his garden.

 

Jamie Blake, of North Shields, set up an unregulated facility at his home which included flat-screen televisions, a drinks bar, and 13 unlicensed gambling machines. Blake had fitted his bar with drinks dispensers and cooler fridges, full-sized pool tables, and showed live football matches on his televisions.

 

It was discovered by Northumbria Police in 2017 as part of a drugs warrant that had been carried out against Blake at his home. Officers estimate the purpose built facility cost around £35,000.

 

More than £14,600 in cash, which he admitted were the proceeds of illegal betting, was also discovered, much of which was kept in the cooker hood in his kitchen.

 

Further inquiries revealed that Blake, despite not having any obvious work-related income at the time, had used his bank accounts to pay for foreign holidays and expensive domestic equipment. A bank search found he had four separate accounts and had made more than £107,000 of cash credits in the space of three years.

 

In 2019, Blake pleaded guilty to three counts of transferring criminal property, one count of possession of criminal property and one count of abstracting electricity at Newcastle Crown Court. He was back in court last month as officers tried to seize his assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

 

Blake was given a two-year suspended sentence and has been ordered to pay back £63,000 within three months. He will also have to attend 15 days of rehabilitation programmes and carry out 210 hours of unpaid work.

 

 

Broadgate Legal

London Solicitors