Keith Wood has achieved another fantastic result for a client in a long and complex confiscation matter.

Our client, having been acquitted of very serious money laundering allegations, had pleaded guilty to a housing benefit fraud and associated mortgage frauds. The CPS took a very aggressive stance on confiscation and started the case with a claim that the benefit to the client amounted to just shy of £2.5 million. The Crown also indicated initially that they were pursuing a hidden assets argument, which of course meant that our client faced a potential further ten years.

Through meticulous argument and analysis, Keith defeated all the Crown's assertions over the 18 month period in which this case ran. It involved understanding the layering of legitimate money in many businesses, personal accounts and property, overseas as well as domestically owned. A settlement was reached whereby the Crown conceded benefit at a little over £200,000 and identified available amount of just £30,000 which was all that was left in the restrained accounts.

The client, now released from prison, was understandably delighted. The Judge when making the order commented to our client that, "You have been extremely well represented and advised throughout these proceedings."

Counsel was Sam Stein QC and Jon Green, both of Dyers Chambers.