A drug boss who made almost £750,000 from his crimes and lived a lavish lifestyle with his partner is set to have his designer clothes collection auctioned off. Jonathan Walsh, 34, ran a gigantic drugs trafficking operation from Greater Manchester to Nottinghamshire peddling cannabis and amphetamine, reports Manchester Evening News.
The 34-year-old met his girlfriend, Jodie Bowie, via social media not long after he had just served 14 years in prison for armed robbery. Bowie, who worked as a carer for the elderly, then joined forces to help the drug boss with his shady operation.
She quickly became comfortable to the lifestyle and when one of Walsh's couriers was arrested, Bowie enlisted her mum, dad, and brother to help with moving the cash generated by the racket. From the money earned from their illegal enterprise, the couple splurged on cosmetic surgery appointments, cars, jewellery and designer garments with their ill-gotten gains.
Their crimes soon caught up with them however and the pair were trailed at Manchester Crown Court last year. Walsh was sentenced to serve 15 years, while girlfriend Bowie managed to avoid jail. When Bowie's home was raided by police, officers discovered more than £100,000 worth of designer clothes as well as £10,000 in cash.
Another visit by police recovered clothing valued at £27,000, another £5,410 in cash, while messages on her phone showed her making arrangements with Walsh to spend around £5,000 on cosmetic surgery.
At a previous hearing, prosecutor Tom Challinor said of the couple's initial weeks together: "Over a very short period of time Walsh began to accrue possessions of a lavish lifestyle, including Rolex watches, designer clothing, and driving expensive cars at £1,300 a month.
"They decked out their house in lavish decor which indicated that sort of lifestyle. Jodie Bowie worked at the time but was not on the sort of income which could have supported that lifestyle. When it came to spending money, she was fearless."
Under Proceeds of Crime laws, Walsh will have to pay back just over £40,000, representing the value of items seized by police including designer clothes worth about £38,000 and a van worth £2,000. He benefited from crime to the tune of £738,750, a hearing at Manchester Crown Court heard.
Walsh has £41,010 worth of available funds, the value of designer clothes and a Citroen Berlingo van. The clothes and van are now set to be sold off by police. Bowie is also set to face proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Her case was adjourned until next month.
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