Back to Latest News
11 Jan 2012
A solicitor who facilitated the laundering of
money from a vulnerable lottery winner has been
sentenced.
Nicholas Heywood, born 21/04/66, of
High Bank Lane, Bolton, pleaded
guilty to money laundering, perverting the
course of justice and prejudicing a money
laundering investigation.
He has today Wednesday 11th January 2012, been sentenced to
12 months imprisonment at Chester Crown Court.
Detective Inspector Tim Dean of the Cheshire Constabulary
said
Heywood abused his trusted position as a solicitor with the
deliberate intent of frustrating a police investigation and justice
itself. Heywood very nearly succeeded but through sheer tenacity
officers in the case uncovered the truth resulting in Heywood′s
conviction.
I cannot think of a more damning condemnation of a solicitor
other than to pervert the course of justice and launder money. His
actions have undermined the public trust in all solicitors. As such
I feel sure all solicitors including his old colleagues would
totally condemn his actions.
- Detective Inspector Tim Dean, Cheshire Constabulary
Background
In relation to Heywood′s money laundering conviction,
Heywood acted for a now deceased lottery winner
named Keith Gough, his wife having won £9.5
million on the National Lottery in June 2005.
Gough was subsequently introduced by a mutual acquaintance to
James Prince, born 29/9/74, and he set about defrauding him.
Following a Cheshire Police investigation, Prince was
convicted of fraud and money
laundering in May 2009. The offence for
which Heywood stands convicted relates to a loan made to Gough as a
result of Prince′s activity. Part of the loan, £13,750, was
transferred by Heywood to himself.
Sadly Gough had alcohol related health problems for quite some
time, which along with the fact he had access to large amounts of
money presented him as a vulnerable person.
Unfortunately he died prior to Heywood pleading guilty in this
matter.
A long standing friend and client of Heywood′s was also a
convicted money launderer Duncan Adamson. He was
convicted in September 2007 following a Cheshire Police
investigation. During this investigation police sought a number of
conveyancing files from a Manchester based firm of solicitors for
whom Heywood was at that time a salaried partner.
Heywood failed to produce two key files and although he later
produced one file, it was significantly altered. The second file
was hidden until discovered by police. His actions frustrated the
police investigation and perverted the course of justice in
relation to Adamson.
Adamson himself is currently in custody serving a substantial
sentence imposed when he failed to pay a £1.3 million confiscation
order.
