MARKET TRADER KEVIN UNDERWOOD,26, SKIPPED BAIL JUS

MARKET TRADER KEVIN UNDERWOOD,26, SKIPPED BAIL JUST BEFORE
HIS TRIAL BECAUSE HE “GOT COLD FEET” WHEN HIS FAMILY WAS
THREATENED, THE OLD BAILEY HEARD TODAY (FRI).

HIS FAMILY FACED THE LOSS OF #10,000 AFTER HE FAILED TO
APPEAR TO FACE FRAUD CHARGES.

JUDGE JACK ABDELA RECOMMENDED LAST FEBUARY THAT HIS WIFE,
23-YEAR-OLD KAREN UNDERWOOD, BE INVESTIGATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF
PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS.

THE JUDGE SAID SHE COULD BE HIDING HER HUSBAND’S
WHEREABOUTS FROM THE POLICE.

UNDERWOOD’S MOTHER, VERONICA,50, TOLD THE COURT “I BELIEVE
HIS WIFE KNOWS WHERE HE IS, BUT SHE WON’T TALK
AND HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW, MR RUSSELL AITKEN, 27, OF PAYMAL
HOUSE, STEPNEY WAY, STEPNEY TOLD THE COURT HE HAD SPOTTED THE
WANTED MAN WITH A MYSTERIOUS BLONDE.

BOTH MRS VERONICA UNDERWOOD, OF TEVIOT STREET, POPLAR, AND
MR AITKEN STOOD A #5000 SURETY FOR UNDERWOOD.

BUT THEY WERE SAVED FROM HAVING TO PAY-UP WHEN UNDERWOOD
GAVE HIMSELF UP ON MARCH 10.

FOR TWO MONTHS HE WENT ON THE RUN, SCRAPING A LIVING FROM
STREET MARKETS AND MOVING FROM HOTEL TO HOTEL FOR TWO MONTHS,
SAID MR ANDREW WILLIAMS, DEFENDING.

UNDERWOOD, WAS “VERY LOW IN THE PECKING ORDER” OF A GANG
THAT STOLE CHEQUES FROM THE ROYAL MAIL, THE COURT HEARD.

CHEQUES WERE PASSED BACK TO UNDERWOOD AND OTHERS AFTER THE
MAILBAG THIEVES, WHO WERE NEVER CAUGHT, WALKED OFF WITH COMPANY
MAIL LEFT IN DOORWAYS, SAID MR DORIAN LOVELL-PANK, PROSECUTING
ALTHOUGH HE “LAUNDERED” #50,000 THROUGH FOUR FALSE
ACCOUNTS, HE GAINED ONLY A #6,000 COMMISSION, COUNSEL ADDED.

HE WAS ARRESTED IN JUNE 1984 TRYING TO USE ONE OF HIS ACCOUNTS.

SUSPICOUS BANK OFFICALS TIPPED OFF POLICE, THE COURT HEARD.

UNDERWOOD, OF ORWELL COURT, POWNALL ROAD, HACKNEY, WAS
JAILED FOR 10 MONTHS AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO SIX CHARGES OF
HANDLING STOLEN CHEQUES.

THREE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SAME CHEQUE RING FACED FRAUD
CHARGES LAST JANUARY.

TWO PLEADED GUILTY AND ONE WAS CONVICTED
BY THE JURY.

ENDS.