Laundering pensioner avoids jail

A PENSIONER has been given a suspended jail term for laundering a £10,000 cheque through his bank account, paid to a criminal who sold a stolen antique table.

Raiders took the oak occasional table, valued between 100,000-120,000, from Lotherton Hall, Aberford, near Leeds, in September 2006.

It was sold for 10,000 to an antique dealer. His cheque was paid into Brian Kenny's account.

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Kenny, 70, of Turnsteads Drive, Cleckheaton, was found guilty by a jury at Leeds Crown Court last month of converting criminal property.

Georgina Coade, prosecuting, told the trial it was not suggested Kenny was involved in the burglary or that he sold the table.

At his trial, Kenny said he had been asked by his friend Graham Harkin to put the cheque through his account because he did not have a bank account. He was given 200 for the favour.

Harkin was jailed for three years in July 2007 for his involvement in the Lotherton Hall burglary.

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Appearing for sentence yesterday, Kenny was given a 12 months jail term suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision and a curfew for four months.

Judge Penelope Belcher said: "I am quite satisfied you knew this was not a straight cheque."

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