Three men in North Wales were involved in a burglary scheme that targeted Asian families for their gold jewellery. However, despite making tens of thousands from their criminal activities, the men have been ordered to repay only a fraction of their haul due to a lack of available funds. The Proceeds of Crime Act hearing that took place at Mold Crown Court determined that the repayment amount would be significantly less than the amount they had benefited from.
The defendants, Todd Wickens, Kew Delaney, and Michael Berry, were all involved in the scheme and faced the consequences in court. Wickens, who made £53,293.96, was ordered to repay £2,570, Delaney, who also made £53.293.96, was instructed to repay £780, and Berry, who benefited by £17,849.73, was ordered to pay back a mere £1 due to the lack of available funds from the crimes. The court decided that assets seized during the case would need to be sold at auction to raise the required amounts.
The gang’s criminal activities involved targeting Asian families’ gold in burglaries across the Wrexham area, where they would then travel to Birmingham’s Bullion Quarter to sell the stolen jewellery. The gang took extreme measures by ransacking a young girl’s bedroom and even using gloves and cleaning products to conceal their DNA. The impact of their crimes left families traumatised, with some resorting to sleeping in their living rooms for safety.
Overall, the gang’s operation was described as “professional” and resulted in significant losses for the victims. The court proceedings shed light on the extent of the crimes and the profits made by the perpetrators, underscoring the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions. Despite the challenges in retrieving the funds, the legal system is ensuring that some form of repayment is made to address the damages caused by the gang’s criminal activities.