Police work to claw back Brighton couple's criminal gains

11:00am Saturday 9th March 2013 in News By Kimberly Middleton, Acting chief reporter

Clifford Wake Clifford Wake

A Brighton couple and their ‘colleague in crime’ have swapped their life of luxury for a prison cell after being found guilty of money laundering and fraud.

But the work is not over for the specialist organised crime officers who are now working to reclaim the millions of pounds of criminal gain.

Reporter Kimberly Middleton spoke to the officers in the case who brought a halt to criminals living the life of luxury.

When police raided Clifford and Julia Wake’s rented home in Brighton they were met with an array of antique furniture, including a cigar cooler.

Incredible possessions for a couple who had only recently declared themselves bankrupt, with Mr Wake claiming he only had £35 to his name.

But it was no surprise for the specialist detectives who had delved through two decades of the couples’ finances to bring them to justice.

They had uncovered their comfortable and often lavish lifestyle, holidays in the most expensive hotels in Dubai and Cyprus, where they would drink champagne.

They owned a Harley Davidson and a speed boat more suited to the set of Miami Vice with three engines worth £20,000 each.

At the height of his wealth Clifford, 52, drove around Brighton in a Masarati with a personal number plate – BO55 01.

Personal number plate BO55 01

“He clearly feathered his own nest, children were put in private school, ” said Detective Inspector Simon Harsley from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit. “The list just goes on and on.

“It was totally arrogant and at the same time they were claiming benefits and not declaring anything to Revenue and Customs. “Their assets were hidden worldwide.”

He used his development companies AB Group South East, A and B Glazing and Mometco as a front to launder money, often withdrawing large sums in order to always have rolls of cash in his pocket.

He bought lorries, sold them on to finance companies at an inflated rate and then failed to make the repayments. He later reported them stolen to the police.

Expensive cars hired for his staff, including an Audi A4, BMW X5, Toyota Grand 4 and Renault Clio, all went missing after the repayments stopped.

The couple took out fraudulent mortgages, including on homes at Lyndhurst Road and Goldstone Lane, both in Hove, by lying about their incomes.

They claimed Julia, 44, was earning up to £100,000 a year as an upholsterer and Clifford was earning up to £150,000 a year at A&B Glazing.

At the same time they claimed about £19,000 in various benefits and only disclosed about £30,000 of earnings to Revenue and Customs.

On December 22, 2008, the couple declared themselves bankrupt, but failed to disclose their Red Rose speed boat, Harley Davidson, Chevrolet Star, two personalised number plates and Porsche Boxster.

Mr Wake in fact told liquidators he had just £35 to his name.

But when police raided the couple’s rented home in Whitethorn Drive, Brighton, they found it filled with lavish items, including antique furniture

Clifford Wake was the prime mover in providing this criminal lifestyle.

His wife was happy to enjoy the fruits of his dishonest labour but also played her part in misleading the authorities and the banks.

Police said Wake was living a life which was so far above his legitimate means that he had to be financing it with the proceeds of crime, whether by himself or by others.

He tried to conceal his assets and converted money into property or income, which he could then spend.

The couple were convicted of 17 counts of deception, theft, money laundering, and Insolvency Act offences at Brighton Crown Court on March 1, which saw £1.75 million pass through their accounts over the course of eight years.

Clifford Wake was found guilty of two offences of fraudulent trading, four of theft, five of money laundering, four offences of obtaining property by deception or dishonesty and one offence of failing to disclose property while bankrupt. He was imprisoned for seven years.

Julia Wake was found guilty of one offence of failing to disclose property while bankrupt, four offences of obtaining services by deception or dishonestly and three offences of money laundering. She was sent to prison for two and a half years.

DI Harsley led the case against the Wakes and their ‘colleague in crime’ Patrick Lee, which took four detectives two years of investigation.

Millions

South East Regional Organised Crime Unit is made up of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Thames Valley police officers and works with the UK Border Agency, HMRC and the Serious Organised Crime Agency to combat organised crime in the South East.

He said: “They were both involved in an organised crime group which we set out to disrupt and dismantle.

“We attacked the pair of them, concentrating on their criminal finances, which really was quite in depth.

“It is all about filtering criminal money through what appeared to be legitimate businesses so that criminal money could be derived from a number of sources, simple fraud where they defrauded the bank and told lies on application forms or siphoned off money from business.

“It’s a complicated web which takes time to pick through and there were attempts to cover up the trail, especially by putting money through seemingly legitimate companies.”

Complicated web

He added: “This type of complex criminal behaviour is very difficult to unravel, and it is a tribute to our hard-working team, Detective Constable Alison Diamond and financial investigators Eamonn O’Dwyer, and Dave Chave that the courts have been satisfied beyond doubt that these are lifestyle organised criminals intent on taking whatever criminal advantage they can to make money.

“People like this need to know that we can still come after them, and that we can also attack their profits.”

Patrick Lee, 60, of Mill Street, Colnbrook, Bucks, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on February 22 for ten offences of money laundering.

Despite being of apparently limited means and with no obvious source of legitimate income that would support substantial movements of money, an analysis of Lee’s accounts showed that from 2003 to 2011 about £4 million passed through his accounts.

A number of those transactions were identified as passing through the accounts of Lee and the Wakes or accounts operated by them.

The court found the funds being transferred between accounts represented criminal property.

DI Harsley said the team is still working to strip the three of their financial profits made through the systematic and organised crime over a number of years.

He said: “We will continue to investigate both of them with a view to proceeds of crime act confiscation process.

“The convictions will establish a level of benefit – how much they have made from their criminal activity.

“We are looking at properties abroad, investments in companies abroad. We’re looking at millions of pounds.

“If those applications are successful the proceeds can be ploughed back into legitimate society via law enforcement and local community projects.

“It’s about making sure that the crime doesn’t pay."

Comments(16)

whereisthe...? says...
12:07pm Sat 9 Mar 13

...and NO comments from usual "hang benefit scroungers" Tory idiots. Typical when two OF THEIR OWN kind caught doing what many do - committing fraud.


Guess what Tory boys? Its scum like this pair that are responsible for the state of the UK, NOT a few benefit fraudsters who in total take a TINY fraction of money compared to people like this, and your tax evading TORY pals.

Report this post »

Ballroom Blitz says...
12:41pm Sat 9 Mar 13

7 years? Out in 3. 2 1/2 years? Out in 1.
So crime really DOES pay.
A small price to pay for years of scrounging and cheating the system.

Report this post »

qm says...
12:47pm Sat 9 Mar 13

I guess Millview is full again . . . .

Report this post »

clubrob6 says...
12:51pm Sat 9 Mar 13

My dad used to say you cant make money by being honest,youve just got to look at our millionaire MPs to see that.The only way to make this couple pay is to strip them of ALL their assets.I often wonder why goverments seem to go for the small time benefit cheats just perhaps they are covering up their own corrupt was with so called legal tax loopholes.

Report this post »

HJarrs says...
12:52pm Sat 9 Mar 13

whereisthe...? wrote:
...and NO comments from usual "hang benefit scroungers" Tory idiots. Typical when two OF THEIR OWN kind caught doing what many do - committing fraud.


Guess what Tory boys? Its scum like this pair that are responsible for the state of the UK, NOT a few benefit fraudsters who in total take a TINY fraction of money compared to people like this, and your tax evading TORY pals.
Are you suggesting the the Tory party seems to support chancers, spivs tax avoiders and fraudsters? You will be telling us next that this week the Tories were the only ones out of the representatives of 27 EU countries fighting desperately to save the bonuses of the poor bankers.

Report this post »

Old Ale Man says...
1:02pm Sat 9 Mar 13

whereisthe...? wrote:
...and NO comments from usual "hang benefit scroungers" Tory idiots. Typical when two OF THEIR OWN kind caught doing what many do - committing fraud.


Guess what Tory boys? Its scum like this pair that are responsible for the state of the UK, NOT a few benefit fraudsters who in total take a TINY fraction of money compared to people like this, and your tax evading TORY pals.
Yup hang em high, if they're worth the cost of a small rope and so pleased the police will be assett stripping, that made for some very pleasant Argus reading.
Thieving bottom of the pond life. I am so happy!!

Report this post »

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
1:08pm Sat 9 Mar 13

HJarrs wrote:
whereisthe...? wrote:
...and NO comments from usual "hang benefit scroungers" Tory idiots. Typical when two OF THEIR OWN kind caught doing what many do - committing fraud.


Guess what Tory boys? Its scum like this pair that are responsible for the state of the UK, NOT a few benefit fraudsters who in total take a TINY fraction of money compared to people like this, and your tax evading TORY pals.
Are you suggesting the the Tory party seems to support chancers, spivs tax avoiders and fraudsters? You will be telling us next that this week the Tories were the only ones out of the representatives of 27 EU countries fighting desperately to save the bonuses of the poor bankers.
What a pair of muppets you are...

Time to wake up and smell the coffee before the gravy train reaches the end of the line!

Report this post »

HJarrs says...
1:40pm Sat 9 Mar 13

Somethingsarejustwro
ng wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
whereisthe...? wrote:
...and NO comments from usual "hang benefit scroungers" Tory idiots. Typical when two OF THEIR OWN kind caught doing what many do - committing fraud.


Guess what Tory boys? Its scum like this pair that are responsible for the state of the UK, NOT a few benefit fraudsters who in total take a TINY fraction of money compared to people like this, and your tax evading TORY pals.
Are you suggesting the the Tory party seems to support chancers, spivs tax avoiders and fraudsters? You will be telling us next that this week the Tories were the only ones out of the representatives of 27 EU countries fighting desperately to save the bonuses of the poor bankers.
What a pair of muppets you are...

Time to wake up and smell the coffee before the gravy train reaches the end of the line!
I worry about your gravy if it smells of coffee. Have you got the packets mixed up?

Report this post »

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
2:03pm Sat 9 Mar 13

HJarrs wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro

ng wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
whereisthe...? wrote:
...and NO comments from usual "hang benefit scroungers" Tory idiots. Typical when two OF THEIR OWN kind caught doing what many do - committing fraud.


Guess what Tory boys? Its scum like this pair that are responsible for the state of the UK, NOT a few benefit fraudsters who in total take a TINY fraction of money compared to people like this, and your tax evading TORY pals.
Are you suggesting the the Tory party seems to support chancers, spivs tax avoiders and fraudsters? You will be telling us next that this week the Tories were the only ones out of the representatives of 27 EU countries fighting desperately to save the bonuses of the poor bankers.
What a pair of muppets you are...

Time to wake up and smell the coffee before the gravy train reaches the end of the line!
I worry about your gravy if it smells of coffee. Have you got the packets mixed up?
Unlike you, I have complete clarity over everything I do and pursue. You would do well to seek out opportunities for education as from the content and structure of your many foolish posts, I am confident that you can improve yourself.

Report this post »

HJarrs says...
2:06pm Sat 9 Mar 13

Somethingsarejustwro
ng wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro


ng wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
whereisthe...? wrote:
...and NO comments from usual "hang benefit scroungers" Tory idiots. Typical when two OF THEIR OWN kind caught doing what many do - committing fraud.


Guess what Tory boys? Its scum like this pair that are responsible for the state of the UK, NOT a few benefit fraudsters who in total take a TINY fraction of money compared to people like this, and your tax evading TORY pals.
Are you suggesting the the Tory party seems to support chancers, spivs tax avoiders and fraudsters? You will be telling us next that this week the Tories were the only ones out of the representatives of 27 EU countries fighting desperately to save the bonuses of the poor bankers.
What a pair of muppets you are...

Time to wake up and smell the coffee before the gravy train reaches the end of the line!
I worry about your gravy if it smells of coffee. Have you got the packets mixed up?
Unlike you, I have complete clarity over everything I do and pursue. You would do well to seek out opportunities for education as from the content and structure of your many foolish posts, I am confident that you can improve yourself.
Are you one of those computer programs that puts words together in a sentance structure but make no sense? Is that why you never engage with the topic of the article?

Report this post »

wippasnapper says...
11:01pm Sat 9 Mar 13

And lets not forget the government will get every penny owed to them but will this make any differents to the benefit reform and making people homeless NO the government will most probably give it to U.N.N.

Report this post »

mr punch says...
2:38am Sun 10 Mar 13

I dont think they should have gone to prison. Better they have all their assets stripped and not able 2 claim benefits because they owe the money they fraudulently were given in the first place. Leave them on the street with the honest people who have nothing. They played the game and lost; they had everything, now let them see what it's like to have nothing.

Report this post »

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
8:27am Sun 10 Mar 13

HJarrs wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro

ng wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro



ng wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
whereisthe...? wrote:
...and NO comments from usual "hang benefit scroungers" Tory idiots. Typical when two OF THEIR OWN kind caught doing what many do - committing fraud.


Guess what Tory boys? Its scum like this pair that are responsible for the state of the UK, NOT a few benefit fraudsters who in total take a TINY fraction of money compared to people like this, and your tax evading TORY pals.
Are you suggesting the the Tory party seems to support chancers, spivs tax avoiders and fraudsters? You will be telling us next that this week the Tories were the only ones out of the representatives of 27 EU countries fighting desperately to save the bonuses of the poor bankers.
What a pair of muppets you are...

Time to wake up and smell the coffee before the gravy train reaches the end of the line!
I worry about your gravy if it smells of coffee. Have you got the packets mixed up?
Unlike you, I have complete clarity over everything I do and pursue. You would do well to seek out opportunities for education as from the content and structure of your many foolish posts, I am confident that you can improve yourself.
Are you one of those computer programs that puts words together in a sentance structure but make no sense? Is that why you never engage with the topic of the article?
HJarrs,even you are not stupid enough to think that; did someone help (sic) you with that comment?

Report this post »

HJarrs says...
11:00am Sun 10 Mar 13

Somethingsarejustwro
ng wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro


ng wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro




ng wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
whereisthe...? wrote:
...and NO comments from usual "hang benefit scroungers" Tory idiots. Typical when two OF THEIR OWN kind caught doing what many do - committing fraud.


Guess what Tory boys? Its scum like this pair that are responsible for the state of the UK, NOT a few benefit fraudsters who in total take a TINY fraction of money compared to people like this, and your tax evading TORY pals.
Are you suggesting the the Tory party seems to support chancers, spivs tax avoiders and fraudsters? You will be telling us next that this week the Tories were the only ones out of the representatives of 27 EU countries fighting desperately to save the bonuses of the poor bankers.
What a pair of muppets you are...

Time to wake up and smell the coffee before the gravy train reaches the end of the line!
I worry about your gravy if it smells of coffee. Have you got the packets mixed up?
Unlike you, I have complete clarity over everything I do and pursue. You would do well to seek out opportunities for education as from the content and structure of your many foolish posts, I am confident that you can improve yourself.
Are you one of those computer programs that puts words together in a sentance structure but make no sense? Is that why you never engage with the topic of the article?
HJarrs,even you are not stupid enough to think that; did someone help (sic) you with that comment?
Have you actually got any comment to make on the article?

Report this post »

Somethingsarejustwrong says...
7:24pm Sun 10 Mar 13

HJarrs wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro

ng wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro



ng wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
Somethingsarejustwro





ng wrote:
HJarrs wrote:
whereisthe...? wrote:
...and NO comments from usual "hang benefit scroungers" Tory idiots. Typical when two OF THEIR OWN kind caught doing what many do - committing fraud.


Guess what Tory boys? Its scum like this pair that are responsible for the state of the UK, NOT a few benefit fraudsters who in total take a TINY fraction of money compared to people like this, and your tax evading TORY pals.
Are you suggesting the the Tory party seems to support chancers, spivs tax avoiders and fraudsters? You will be telling us next that this week the Tories were the only ones out of the representatives of 27 EU countries fighting desperately to save the bonuses of the poor bankers.
What a pair of muppets you are...

Time to wake up and smell the coffee before the gravy train reaches the end of the line!
I worry about your gravy if it smells of coffee. Have you got the packets mixed up?
Unlike you, I have complete clarity over everything I do and pursue. You would do well to seek out opportunities for education as from the content and structure of your many foolish posts, I am confident that you can improve yourself.
Are you one of those computer programs that puts words together in a sentance structure but make no sense? Is that why you never engage with the topic of the article?
HJarrs,even you are not stupid enough to think that; did someone help (sic) you with that comment?
Have you actually got any comment to make on the article?
Yes, in the interim you are at best a waste of space and time!

Report this post »

Pikey-Biker says...
9:17am Wed 13 Mar 13

Old Ale Man wrote:
whereisthe...? wrote: ...and NO comments from usual "hang benefit scroungers" Tory idiots. Typical when two OF THEIR OWN kind caught doing what many do - committing fraud. Guess what Tory boys? Its scum like this pair that are responsible for the state of the UK, NOT a few benefit fraudsters who in total take a TINY fraction of money compared to people like this, and your tax evading TORY pals.
Yup hang em high, if they're worth the cost of a small rope and so pleased the police will be assett stripping, that made for some very pleasant Argus reading. Thieving bottom of the pond life. I am so happy!!
well said

Report this post »

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