REA: BUILDER JAILED FOR FOOTSOLDIER ROLE IN BULLION CON

An out of work builder who tried to collect £730,000-worth of gold bullion using fake identity documents was today (Thurs) jailed for 18 months.

James Rea, 45, walked in to Baird and Co in the City of London armed with a forged driving licence and a utility bill in the name of Ian Marshall.

Police were waiting for the dad-of-two at the bullion merchants in St Cross Street, because the gold had been paid for with stolen cash.

Rea, described as ‘far from the brains’ of the plot, had been recruited to pick-up the 25.2 grams of gold to clear a £5,000 drug debt.

When he was arrested, he told officers: ‘I am here because of threats. I owe people money.

‘I thought if I did this it would all be over.’

Asked if he wanted a solicitor, he added: ‘It’s not really going to help, I’m guilty.’

Rea admitted fraud, possession of articles for use in fraud, possession of false identity documents with intent and attempting to convert criminal property.

The Old Bailey heard he had been collected from his Birmingham home on April 8 this year and driven to London.

A week earlier he had agreed to do a job in the capital on behalf of his cocaine dealer. He was told to dress smartly and carry a brief case.

Rea supplied a passport photo which was used to create the counterfeit driving licence.

The fake documents were then given to him on the way to London, before took a cab to the gold merchants.

Prosecutor Lisa Matthews said the bullion had been bought with £732,000 which had been diverted to a fraudulent account from Oldham Sixth Form College in Greater Manchester.

Staff had believed they were paying for a large-scale building project but had fallen foul of a scam when the school was sent a letter instructing that the money be directed to a new bank account.

Once the matter was reported to police, officers were able to follow a paper trail which led to the collection of the bullion and they were lying in wait for Rea.

‘There was as an element of pressure,’ said James Lachkovic (CORR), mitigating.

‘He was recruited at a late stage to carry out the most dangerous aspect (of the fraud.’

Rea is engaged to his long-term partner. He also has three step-children, the eldest of which is currently fighting in Afghanistan.

‘He feels like he has let his family and friends down by behaving the way that he did,’ added Mr Lachkovic.

Jailing Rea, Judge Roger Chapple QC said: ‘All of this was prompted by an outstanding debt to your drug dealer. I accept substantial pressure was brought to bare on you including physical violence.

‘But as you readily appreciate that cannot absolve you from criminal responsibility for your actions.

‘It was because of your voluntary and criminal use of cocaine that that debt had built up and then you became an easy target.

‘It can properly be said you were far from the brains of this fraud, rather you were a footsoldier at the bottom end of things.

‘Of course frauds like this cannot be carried out unless there are footsoldiers like you.’

Rea, of (38) Allens Farm Road, Northfield, Birmingham, was jailed for a total of 18 months after admitting four offences.

He will be released on licence after serving half of his sentence.

ENDS