A conveyancer who was struck off in 2001 for misappropriation of clients’ funds has been jailed after laundering over half a million pounds for a gang of organised criminals in Spain.
Anthony Lea was struck off in 2001 after diverting £31,000 of client funds to pay off his debt and make a “highly speculative” investment. He has now been jailed along with his partner Ian Hollis – the owner of a bar on the Costa Del Sol – for a total of four-and-a-half years. However, Hollis failed to attend his hearing and is still in Spain.
The money laundering occurred as part of a fraudulent timeshare scheme wherein the gang would contact the UK owners of Spanish timeshares and offer to purchase the property. Such owners are often keen to sell due to the restrictive and expensive nature of timeshare contracts. The fraudsters would then charge an advance fee of £1,000-£2,000 before disappearing.
Another scam company – connected to that involved with Lea – would then offer to collect the stolen money for a further fee.
It is said that Lea laundered over £465,000 through his account, with Hollins also laundering £75,000. Lea once handed over £180,000 in cash to the gang at a motorway service station.
The sentencing comes following an extensive investigation from Trading Standards that began in 2016 following a tip-off from a UK pensioner. The judge noted that Spanish solicitors and estate agents were also involved with the scheme, though without their knowledge.
Daniel Keating, Information Officer for the Timeshare Consumer Association (TCA), said “timeshare has always been a magnet for criminal activity”.
