Money laundering gang given suspended jail terms for £50,000 scam

Stuart Frederick McCarroll senior, 51, of Sun Ridge Farm, in Thornley, his son Stuart McCarroll junior, 26, of Poplar Terrace, in Shotton Colliery, Graham Hickman, 28, of Garden Terrace, Thornley, and Wayne Telford, 32, of Jack Lawson Terrace, Wheatley Hill, appeared at Durham Crown Court.

The four pleaded guilty to money laundering, as part of a scam which saw £50,000 of stolen goods dismantled on McCarroll senior’s farm.

The court heard that a £34,000 mini-digger and multiple stolen vehicles were also found.

Judge Howard Crowson sentenced McCarroll to two years imprisonment suspended for two years, and a 12-week curfew order. McCarroll junior was sentenced to 13-months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, and was to carry out 120-hours unpaid work.

Hickman was handed an eight-month jail term suspended for 12 months and 80-hours unpaid work, while Telford was slapped with a 12-month community order and 80-hours unpaid work.