Defence confiscation success – reduction of available amount from £8 million to £650,000
In 2016, Alan Yeomans pleaded guilty to offences including cultivation of cannabis, acting as a director whilst disqualified in relation to three companies, and laundering approx. £2m. He was represented by a different legal team and was sentenced to 6 and a half years’ imprisonment.
The case attracted notoriety as Mr Yeomans was alleged to have disguised a substantial luxury mansion as a farm shed.
The previous solicitors went into administration and we were instructed in the POCA proceedings. The prosecution, instructed by The Insolvency Service, asserted that the full ‘benefit figure’ of over £8m was realisable. This figure included the turnover of three companies and Mr Yeomans was accused of concealing massive alleged ‘hidden assets’.
David Bloom argued that this was not a case where the veil of incorporation for the companies could properly be pierced, and that this was not an appropriate case for the hidden assets provisions to be applied.
Following the meticulous preparation of this case, the prosecution finally agreed that Mr Yeomans’ ‘benefit’ was just £1m and that his ‘available assets’ were £650,000. Significantly, the prosecution specifically accepted that there were no ‘hidden assets’ whatsoever. The court made a confiscation order in these agreed terms.
David Bloom, assisted by Charlotte Bennett, instructed John Lloyd Jones QC and Kevin Barry of 36 Crime.
