Lorry driver’s wife jailed for role in £1m spending spree with crime cash

Derry Priestley, 48, led a lavish lifestyle after her husband Dean, 47, a Falklands War veteran, stole the money from a gang of Manchester-based criminals.

Priestley distributed the cash to his family to splash out on holidays, homes, cars, a luxury motor cruiser and jewellery as he went on the run.

He was supposed to take the cash out of the country in the spare wheel of his lorry in a deal with the gangsters, but kept it for himself instead.

Sheffield Crown Court heard that Derry Priestley drove round in a £32,000 black BMW 630 cabriolet which she chose herself.

She dined at the most expensive restaurants in Leeds, shopped at Harvey Nichols and had trips on a £230,000 motor cruiser kept on Lake Windermere by her husband.

Ex-Royal Navy officer Dean Priestley was jailed for three-and-a-half years earlier this year after admitting conspiring to convert criminal property.

Derry Priestley appeared for sentence after being convicted following a three-day trial of conspiracy to launder cash, attempting to convert criminal property and converting criminal property.

Her barrister Andrew Haslam said she was arrested in July 2008 and had since seen the couple’s £900,000 watermill home in Bielby, East Yorkshire repossessed. She is now £75,000 in debt.

Recorder Ray Singh jailed twice-married Mrs Priestley for 18 months.

He told her she had lived a lavish lifestyle and said: “I have no doubt you knew what you were doing was wrong.”

Her husband had pleaded guilty on “overwhelming” evidence, yet she had chosen to go to trial for which she received no credit, he added.

Mr Singh said: “You were a willing and enthusiastic participant in these offences.”

The Priestleys’ sons James, 23, and Nathan, 22, along with nephews Simon Taylor, 35, and Christopher Taylor, 32, all received suspended jail terms earlier this year after admitting conspiring to convert criminal property.