Crime pairorderedto repay£574,000

A COUPLE who lived a life of luxury on criminal proceeds have been ordered to pay back more than half a million pounds of their ill gotten gains or face further time in prison.

Boxing promoters Michael and Christine Dalton were jailed in 2008 for money laundering and benefit fraud after a court heard the couple had bought at least three houses in Grimsby and built a luxury four bedroomed villa with swimming pool in a gated complex in Thailand with the proceeds.

They spent more than 26,000 in travel and airfares and over 15,000 furnishing their main home while he was claiming invalidity benefit.

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Judge Paul Hoffman yesterday ruled at Leeds Crown Court that Christine Dalton, 54, of Weelsby Avenue, Grimsby, had benefited to the tune of 603,009 from criminal activities and made a confiscation order for 457,975 to be paid within 18 months or she would face three and a half years in prison.

Her husband, 62, was said to have benefited by 207,234 from criminal activity and a confiscation order was made for 116,570 to be paid within 12 months or he would face a further two years in jail.

In April 2008 Michael Dalton was jailed for five and a half years after admitting money laundering of not less than 200,000, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and dishonestly obtaining 33,000 in benefits.

His wife, who also admitted money laundering and benefit fraud involving 12,346, was jailed for two and a half years.

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Christine Dalton claimed during the confiscation hearing that she built up legitimate savings.

After the judge’s ruling, Insp Paul Welton of Humberside Police’s Economic Crime Unit said: “Today is a great result, particularly in the current difficult economic climate, as many people are facing austerity and possible job losses it becomes increasingly important that we make sure crime does not pay.”

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