Gravesend couple forced to give up £110,000 in court

A court has forced a couple from Gravesend to forfeit over £110,000 in cash after they failed to demonstrate how they legally earned it.

On December 17th, 2020, Kent Police officers search a property in the town and found two bags of cash in Lee Martin and his wife Hayley’s kitchen cupboard.

They claimed that this cash was left after a relative passed away and they were set to distribute it to family members at Christmas. Financial analysis of their bank accounts and income proved that it is unlikely that their relative had that large sum and a sample of the cash proved that three of the bank notes were in fact issued after the death of their relative.

Detective Inspector Dave Godfrey of Kent Police’s Economic Crime Unit said: ‘While Mr and Mrs Martin were never charged with any criminal offences in relation to this incident, they were unable to provide a verifiable explanation as to where the money came from. The Proceeds of Crime Act enables our financial investigators to ensure any money potentially acquired through criminal means is not used to fund further unlawful activity.’

A hearing took place at Margate Magistrates’ Court on the 2 December, where the court ordered the forfeiture of £111,040 plus accrued interest due to the failure by the Martins to prove how they obtained it.