Seizure threat to properties of cheat’s wife

David Bland, who lives in Hull, has been ordered to repay the money by Durham Crown Court or face a default three-and-a-half- year prison sentence

Bland is on licence after pleading guilty in 2009 to money laundering at the same court. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

The North East Regional Asset Recovery Team said Bland set up a payroll company called DB Specialist Services, registered at St Mark’s Square in Hull, which worked for two companies based in Milton Keynes.

But he funnelled more than £500,000 worth of employees’ tax and National Insurance contributions into his own accounts.

The money was then withdrawn from cash machines and subsequently disappeared.

Officers made extensive enquiries and discovered that Bland had set up a sham company based in Spain.

Det Con Paul Gardiner, from the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team, said Bland outwardly had little to his name.

He said: “The company he set up in Spain, Espana Inks Limitada, he purports was involved in legitimate trading.

“However, we don’t believe that to be the case.

“A clause in the court order says if the money is not paid in six months his wife has a portfolio of 11 properties in total, the majority in Hull, and these will be subject to enforcement proceedings.”