Crime boss's lover who spent £100k on designer clothes is spared jail
Crime boss’s girlfriend, 32, who splurged £100k on designer clothes, £5k on surgery and recruited her mother, father, and brother to work in the £1.36m drugs racket is spared jail
- Jodie Bowie, from near Oldham, handed 21 months’ jail suspended for two years
- Care worker splurged on Rolex watch, Louis Vuitton bags and Balenciaga shoes
- Her lover Jonathan Walsh funded lifestyle via county lines drug trafficking ring
Jodie Bowie (pictured), 32, from Failsworth, near Oldham, was handed 21 months’ jail at Manchester Crown Court, suspended for two years, after splashing more than £100,000 on designer clothes and cosmetic surgery, thanks to the proceeds from her lover’s County Lines drug trafficking operation
A gangster’s moll who splashed more than £100,000 on designer clothes and cosmetic surgery during a ‘fearless’ spending spree funded by her crime boss boyfriend – before roping three of her own family members into his £1.36m drug trafficking ring – has been spared jail.
Jodie Bowie, 32, from Failsworth, near Oldham, Manchester, worked as a carer for the elderly on minimum wage yet was able to buy a Rolex watch, Louis Vuitton handbags and dozens of other top brand items – and had almost £5,000 worth of cosmetic surgery.
Her lover Jonathan Walsh, 33, financed their luxury lifestyle by shifting £1.36m worth of cannabis – plus amphetamine worth £130,000 – across Britain in a county lines trafficking operation in which couriers were armed with guns and grenades.
At Manchester Crown Court, Bowie, who has a two year old daughter with Walsh, faced jail after she admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis, and money laundering but escaped with a 21-month sentence suspended for two years.
She was also handed a 7pm-5.30am curfew for three months and was ordered to complete 140 hours unpaid work.
Police seized her £97,000 designer haul after breaking up Walsh’s drugs racket in which he bought cannabis from wholesale hoodlums operating in Warrington, Cheshire and nearby Wigan, before selling it to dealers in Mansfield, Derbyshire, at a 30 per cent profit.
Items confiscated from Bowie included a green Moncler quilted coat worth an estimated £1,700, a Givenchy handbag and purse worth £2,000, Guiseppe Zanotti shoes worth £540, a pair of Balenciaga trainers worth £770 and trendy Hunter Wellingtons worth £150.
Bowie tried to claim at trial that she had bought many of the designer items at ‘below the market value’ before she met her lover.
Other designer labelled goodies included Dolce and Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Versace.
Police discovered how Bowie had recruited her parents Janice, 53, and David, 52, and older brother Lee, 34, to make some of the 190 mile round trips to drop off drugs.
Bowie’s lover Jonathan Walsh (pictured together), 33, financed their luxury lifestyle by shifting £1.36m worth of cannabis – plus amphetamine worth £130,000 – across Britain in a county lines trafficking operation in which couriers were armed with guns and grenades
At Manchester Crown Court, Bowie (pictured), who has a two year old daughter with Walsh, faced jail after she admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis, and money laundering but escaped with a 21-month sentence suspended for two years
Bowie (pictured with Walsh) was made subject of a 7pm-5.30am curfew for three months and was ordered to complete 140 hours unpaid work
A total of 21 journeys were made during the period of the racket.
Walsh was jailed for 15 years at an earlier hearing after he admitted conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering.
He was also convicted of conspiracy to possess a firearm, conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to possess an explosive device. The couple have now split up.
The drugs racket began in October 2018 after Walsh was freed from jail after serving half of a 14 year stretch for being a member of an armed robbery gang which targeted cash delivery vans.
Tom Challinor prosecuting said: ‘Jodie Bowie met Jonathan Walsh via Facebook whilst he was still in custody. From the outset, she knew about his serious criminal activity and would have known he would need to start afresh upon his release.
‘They moved in together and within a short space of time, Walsh began to acquire the sorts of possessions indicative with a lavish lifestyle. He had expensive watches, designer clothes and drove expensive cars. He was spending at least £1300 per month.
‘Jodie was working at the time but was not in receipt of the sort of income which would have supported that lifestyle. Walsh meanwhile had no declared income.
‘She knew full well that he had no job, hence why she was directing him to get one, which was born out in the text messages. Against that background, she knew the reasons in which he made his money.
‘The profits of the operation were considerable. A lot went on maintaining the lavish lifestyle Jonathan Walsh had with his partner Jodie Bowie. It included the purchasing of expensive watches, designer clothes as well as leasing expensive cars.
‘It required trust to be needed from members of his own family and latterly, the family of Jodie Bowie.’
Items confiscated from Bowie (pictured) included a green Moncler quilted coat worth an estimated £1,700, a Givenchy handbag and purse worth £2,000, Guiseppe Zanotti shoes worth £540, a pair of Balenciaga trainers worth £770 and trendy Hunter Wellingtons worth £150
Bowie (pictured) tried to claim at trial that she had bought many of the designer items at ‘below the market value’ before she met her lover
Police seized Bowie’s £97,000 designer haul after breaking up her lover Jonathan Walsh’s drugs racket in which he bought cannabis from wholesale hoodlums operating in Warrington, Cheshire and nearby Wigan, and selling it to dealers in Mansfield, Derbyshire, at a 30 per cent profit. (Pictured: Walsh in mugshot)
Walsh was jailed for 15 years at an earlier hearing after he admitted conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering. (Pictured: Grenade seized by police during the investigation)
Walsh was also convicted of conspiracy to possess a firearm, conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to possess an explosive device. (Pictured: 8mm revolver and case recovered by police during their investigations)
The court heard Walsh, whose encrypted Encro phones and a password system kept the operation secure and secret, would buy amphetamine and cannabis from Wigan and Warrington and then use couriers to transport the drugs to Mansfield.
He bought cannabis in 10kg quantities for for £50,000 each and then would sell for £65,000, making a profit of £15,000 profit on every journey.
He would also buy two kilos of amphetamine for £1,000 and sell it for £1,500 making a profit of £500 per kilo.
Armed police disrupted the operation in 2019 when one courier was stopped and found to have an Ekol Arda 8mm revolver with over 100 rounds of ammunition and a homemade improvised grenade in his jacket pocket.
But to keep up deliveries Bowie recruited her family instead to make drops. All were later held in a series of swoops.
The prosecutor added: ‘Jodie’s part in the operation was an active and organisation one. Following the recruitment of her parents and brother, she played an active part in directing them to their destinations when seven of the journeys were made.
‘When it came to spending, she was fearless. Over £10,000 was recovered and clothing and assets with a retail value close to £100,000. On another occasion, £27,000 worth of retail value was recovered and £5,410 in cash.
‘There are messages which show her talking to her partner about making arrangements for cosmetic surgery to the tune of £4,750.
‘There was discussion of purchasing a van to transport the drugs. She stressed her desire for him to continue. They were dependant on the money for their lavish lifestyle.
‘Lee, David and Janice were recruited by Jodie to drive to Mansfield and back in order to further the drugs operation.
‘Janice was involved to give a veneer of normality and to help reduce the chances of being pulled over by the police. She knew what she involved in.’
Bowie had two previous convictions for theft. Her counsel Brendan O’Leary said: ‘She involved her family at the request of Jonathan Walsh and it is clear it was under his direction. He was a relatively controlling individual.
‘She has worked since her teenage years and lived at home for much of that time saving money and funding her own designer goods. Many of these items pre-date her role with Mr Walsh and many items were purchased for less than the recommended retail price.
‘There is clear evidence that she has worked for the vast majority of her lifestyle and she has accumulated some items. It is not supported that she has received significant financial gain and there is no evidence she was obtaining money from Jonathan Walsh.
Police discovered how Bowie had recruited her parents Janice (pictured), 53, and David, 52, and older brother Lee, 34, to make same of the 190 mile round trips to drop off drugs. Janice, who denied wrongdoing, was sentenced to 12 months custody suspended for 18 months
‘Around the time of her involvement, she was waiting to give birth. If she is sentenced to immediate imprisonment the impact on her daughter would be profound and severely detrimental.
‘Her employment is as a carer for the elderly. It is not a glamorous job, it is a hard job which she has done since her early teens. She has not led a lavish lifestyle like the Crown say.
‘She strongly asserts she had her own income which paid for her herself. She was not dependant on receiving money from him, but she was not the main recipient of his criminality. She has always maintained she has made the vast majority of her own needs.’
Janice and David Bowie both of Failsworth were convicted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.
David who admitted the charge was given 10 months jail suspended for 18 months whilst Janice who denied wrongdoing was sentenced to 12 months custody suspended for 18 months. Both were ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work and pay a total of £700 costs.
Lee who admitted conspiracy will be sentenced in April.
Sentencing Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said: ‘You were all part of a sophisticated organisation supporting this criminal adventure to thrive. Cannabis is responsible for psychosis, depression and paralysis.
‘It ruins lives and they are equally damaged by Organised Crime Groups such as this one in our society. This groups association’s with firearms shows the fear and harm of these groups.
‘You are all very fortunate to be walking out the back door and not the door to the cells. What you got yourselves into was serious criminal activity and could have led to immediate loss of your liberty. You have been given an opportunity to turn your lives around. I hope not to see you again and I suspect you have all learnt your lesson.’
She told Bowie: ‘Jodie, you played a significant role and were aware of the nature of the business. You knew the source of Walsh’s money and.I am satisfied you stood to gain financially from this.
‘I accept you did have personal income but that income alone would not have enabled you to live the lifestyle that you inevitably did. You work as a carer which is a job often undervalued by the public and this shows a different side to your personality.
The court heard Walsh (pictured), whose encrypted Encro phones and a password system kept the operation secure and secret, would buy amphetamine and cannabis from Wigan and Warrington and then use couriers to transport the drugs to Mansfield
Noel Walsh (pictured left), 38, of, Oldham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B and money laundering and was jailed for three years. Anthony Jones (pictured right), 41, of Liverpool, was jailed for 15 years after he was found guilty of conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to possess an explosive device.
Joseph Grey (pictured left), 57, of Manchester, pleaded guilty to firearm, drugs and money laundering offences and was sentenced to 8.5 years. Kaylum Davies (pictured right), 24, of Newton Heath, Manchester pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin, amphetamine and cannabis and was jailed for three years
‘You are the sole carer of a young child and sending you immediately to custody would have a detrimental and disproportionate impact on your daughter.’
Anthony Jones, 41, of Liverpool, was jailed for 15 years after he was found guilty of conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to possess an explosive device.
Joseph Grey, 57, of Manchester, pleaded guilty to firearm, drugs and money laundering offences and was sentenced to 8.5 years.
Kaylum Davies, 24, of Newton Heath, Manchester pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin, amphetamine and cannabis and was jailed for three years.
Noel Walsh, 38, of, Oldham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class B and money laundering and was jailed for three years.
Geoffrey Keenan, 54, of Failsworth, Oldham pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs and was jailed for two years four months.
Chelsea Davies, 28, of Oldham, Manchester received 14 months imprisonment, suspended for two years after admitting money laundering.
Source: Read Full Article