By Lucy Caulkett-
A father and son who masterminded a major counterfeit currency scam have been ordered to pay back in excess of a combined £223,000.
Christopher Gaunt, 59, and Jordan Gaunt, 27, were ordered to pay back their criminal earnings at a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Leeds Crown Court last Friday (July 7) following confiscation proceedings brought by the Economic Crime Unit.
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The pair, from Holmfirth, had both pleaded guilty in 2022 to the making of counterfeit currency with intent to pass or tender as genuine following a joint investigation by West Yorkshire Police and the National Counterfeit Currency Unit (UKNCO) at the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Christopher was sentenced to six and a half years for the currency offence, and possession with intent to supply cannabis in December 2022.
Jordan was given a two-year suspended sentence for the currency offence.
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At last Friday’s hearing the court judged Christopher had accrued a benefit of £217,390.47 from crime and was ordered to pay this exact sum back.
Jordan was judged to have benefited by £6,114.14 from crime and ordered to pay a total of £3,840.32 which he was judged to have available.
Both men must pay the confiscation orders in full by October 6 or face a possible increase in their custodial sentences.
Investigations into the pair began in 2020 after the Kirklees Proceeds of Crime Team were contacted by the NCA who had been making enquiries into the suspected circulation of counterfeit banknotes.
The forgeries included a variety of notes including English and Scottish currency.
Enquiries led officers to Christopher Gaunt who was arrested on October 8, 2020.
On searching his Bank Street home immediately after the arrest police found around £200,000 of forged old-style paper currency as well as production equipment.
A cannabis factory was also located at the property.
Counterfeit Cash recovered by cops Image: WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE
A search on the same day of another premises managed by him on Wakefield Road in Scissett led to officers recovering more equipment, such as dyes and printers, used in the production of forgeries.
It is believed the notes themselves were intended for sale to contacts in the criminal underworld.
Chief Inspector Lee Townley of the Economic Crime Unit, said: “We welcome the substantial joint confiscation imposed on these men by the courts, which ensures they have to pay back every available penny of the money they made from crime.
“They masterminded a substantial counterfeit currency ring and we believe the ‘cash’ they created was being used to fund crime in communities so it is a good thing for residents that this supply chain has been broken.”
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