WIREDGOV

A man jailed for his part in an organised crime network which conspired to supply the illegal drugs trade with tonnes of chemicals used as cutting agents, has today been sentenced to a further two years in prison after deceiving an adult with learning difficulties into parting with his £180k assets.

John Cawley, 32, from Fleetwood, Lancashire, deliberately targeted the victim, who had recently lost his mother, and defrauded him of her estate.

HHJ Marson at Leeds Crown Court said Cawley had “…deprived a vulnerable man of all his money and left him utterly devastated.”  Cawley had shown he was “…a streetwise, manipulative, cunning and dishonest individual.”

Cawley met his victim in Blackpool and befriended him after learning of his vulnerability and financial position. Over a period of just five months, between July and November 2010, Cawley convinced him to part with his cash.

The victim told SOCA’s Vulnerable Person’s Team that once the money ran out he was further encouraged to take out credit agreements for cars, jetskis and other high-value goods. He was even persuaded to accept points for a driving offence committed by Cawley, despite the fact the 48-year-old didn’t drive.

Cawley pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and perverting the course of justice, and will not serve a total prison sentence of 17 years.

SOCA’s Gerry Smyth said:

"This was a particularly despicable act. John Cawley is a convicted criminal who deliberately set out to dupe his victim of his life savings because he was vulnerable. Cawley will now spend a further two years in prison, and a financial investigation is also now underway in relation to his assets.”

Cawley is currently serving 15 years in prison after being found guilty in November 2011 of acting as a front for a crime group which imported and supplied almost 36 tonnes of cutting agents. The jury heard that Crawley’s role included the creation and use of a false identity.

The chemicals included benzocaine, lidocaine and procaine, which are commonly used to cut cocaine and may also be mixed with amphetamine and heroin.

The three-year SOCA investigation showed that the group imported 20% of the global demand for benzocaine. Cawley and two other men, Barry Hartley and Jamie Dale, were jailed for a total of 44 years. Further information is available here.