Officers from Wiltshire Police who led a complex investigation named Operation Starling have secured one of the Force’s biggest ever single confiscation orders in court amounting to £3.8 million.
Operation Starling was the investigation into a large scale and systematic theft of British Telecommunications PLC equipment, worth approximately £2 million and the subsequent money laundering of the proceeds.
Five people were found guilty by jury and sentenced back in March 2016 for their part in the theft. A sixth defendant, Caroline Woodcraft, was found guilty following a trial in June 2017.
They were all previously sentenced as follows:
– Stephen Smith, 61, from Hook, Swindon, found guilty of one count of conspiracy to steal and three counts of conspiracy to money launder, sentenced to eight-and-a-half years imprisonment
– Ronald Porter, 53, of Siward Road, Witham, Essex, guilty of one count of conspiracy to steal, sentenced to four years imprisonment
– Philip Woodcraft, 57, of Gorsley, Ross-On-Wye, foundguilty of one count of conspiracy to money launder, sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment
– Karen Allan, 59, of Rudgard Road, Coventry, found guilty of conspiracy to money launder, sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years
– Martin Kilford, 52, from Dydale Road, pleaded guilty to all four counts at an earlier date, sentenced to two years and four months imprisonment
– Caroline Woodcraft, aged 51, of Gorsley, Ross on Wye, found guilty of one count of conspiracy to money launder, sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years
On Friday 5 January, at Bristol Crown Court, the confiscation order secured against Philip Woodcraft and his wife Caroline was the final in the series of orders made in the aftermath of the Operation Starling sentencing and amounted to £3,827,820.01.
Confiscation orders have previously been made against Stephen Smith for £1,710,002.32, Martin Kilford for £48,637.13, Karen Allen for £86,575 and Ronald Porter, for £5,215.28. Porter was also the subject of a cash forfeiture order for £104,644.94 in respect of cash that was found in the boot of his car when it was searched by police.
Wiltshire Police Financial Investigator Andrew Stonell said: “The conspirators exploited a loophole in BT’s distribution and supply chain allowing them to steal vast quantities of equipment which were then sold through Smith’s company – Telkom International Ltd based in Royal Wootton Bassett.
“The proceeds were then laundered through a range of companies owned and controlled by various conspirators by means of false invoices and purchase orders in an attempt to create the illusion that the transactions represented legitimate trade.
“Police successfully traced laundered funds through a range of entities in the UK and offshore including companies registered in the British Virgin Islands with bank accounts in the Isle-of-Man and Dubai.
“In respect of the latest Order there is in excess of £2.3million restrained in bank accounts, plus properties valued at £1.5million along with vehicles and items of jewellery.
“It is anticipated that the eventual recovery will exceed well over £5million, of which 18 per cent will come back into Wiltshire Police, and £1million will be returned to BT by way of compensation.”
