A FAILED businessman has been jailed for five years for laundering £5 million of drugs money for an organised criminal gang operating in the Bradford area.

Richard Beech made frequent trips between his home in Manchester and West Yorkshire to collect and deliver large amounts of cash concealed in hidden compartments under the seats of his specially modified Range Rover.

He was today labelled the “cash converter and banker” for the crime ring led by Rashid Ashraf (also known as Mohammed Rashid) who was jailed for 18 years earlier this month for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession of criminal property and conspiracy to possess prohibited weapons and ammunition.

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Beech, 46, of Urmston Lane, Stretford, Manchester, was the sixth and final defendant to be sentenced for his role in the operation. He pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property and transferring criminal property.

Prosecutor Alasdair Campbell said Beech played “a crucial role” in the organisation.

He was observed in Bradford on many occasions in his Range Rover collecting bags containing bundles of banknotes. A ledger seized by the police from his home showed the full extent of his money laundering activity.

Beech was arrested on April 29 heading back to Manchester from Bradford along the M62 at 3.30pm. Bags of money were hidden in the compartments of the Range Rover and he was in possession of three phones, one of them encrypted.

The police seized the ledger, a heat-sealing machine and more cash from his home, making a total haul of £195,770 on that day.

Beech’s barrister, Rodney Ferm, conceded the operation was well planned but its concept was simple.

Beech was provided with the modified Range Rover to transport the cash, and the equipment at his home.

“This was not his cash. He was at all times an employee of those above him,” Mr Ferm said.

Beech fell into criminality after his business failed badly and he was approached by the gang. He had now learned to resist the allure of easy and dishonest money.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell QC, said the police surveillance operation led to the seizure of cocaine and heroin worth £1.214 million and four Glock pistols with silencers and 200 rounds of ammunition.

Beech’s role was to collect and deliver large quantities of cash totalling £5 million between Manchester and Bradford.

“This was sophisticated and sustained money laundering,” Judge Mansell said.

“You were the cash converter and banker” but Beech put himself at considerable risk of arrest by transporting the money across the Pennines.