A FATHER and son who masterminded a £900,000 plus counterfeit currency operation from have been convicted.

Christopher and Jordan Gaunt were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on December 13 after pleading guilty to manufacturing counterfeit bank notes from premises in Holmfirth. 

The pair had both pleaded guilty to the making of counterfeit currency with intent to pass or tender as genuine following a joint investigation by West Yorkshire Police and the National Counterfeit Currency Unit (UKNCO) at the National Crime Agency (NCA)

Christopher Gaunt, 58, from Holmfirth was sentenced to six and a half years for the currency offence, and possession with intent to supply cannabis.

Jordan Gaunt,  27, also from Holmfirth, was given a two-year suspended sentence for the currency offence at the hearing. 

Investigations into the offenders began in 2020 after the Kirklees Proceeds of Crime Team were contacted by the NCA which had been making enquiries into the suspected circulation of counterfeit banknotes.   

The forgeries included a variety of notes including English and Scottish currency.

Enquiries led officers to Christopher Gaunt who was arrested in October 2020.

On searching his Bank Street home immediately after the arrest, police found around £200,000 of forged old-style paper currency as well as production equipment. A cannabis factory was also located at the property.

A search on the same day of another premises managed by him on Wakefield Road in Scissett led to officers recovering more equipment, such as dyes and printers, used in the production of forgeries. 

His son Jordan was arrested afterwards, and as a result of their investigation, officers deduced the pair had the materials used to produce around £977,000 of forged old-style paper banknotes. 

It is believed the notes themselves were intended for sale to contacts in the criminal underworld.

PC Connor of the Kirklees Proceeds of Crime Team, who led the West Yorkshire Police investigation, said: "Christopher and Jordan Gaunt masterminded a sophisticated and clearly very lucrative counterfeit currency ring from within the heart of a small West Yorkshire tourist town, and they deserve their sentences.

"Upon searching Christopher Gaunt's properties we uncovered large amounts of kit used for making copies of older style paper bank notes, as well as £200,000 of notes almost ready to ship. 

"His son Jordan was involved in helping him create this fake currency which was clearly intended to go straight into the pockets of organised criminals.” 

NUKNCO manager Neil Harris, said: "Serious and organised criminals damage the economic health of the UK through their efforts to line their own pockets.

"The outcome of this case was as a result of a successful partnership investigation between a specialist team at the NCA and West Yorkshire Police.

"The investigation dismantled this criminal enterprise and prevented large quantities counterfeit bank notes from entering the UK economy.

"The impact of that counterfeit money is felt by unsuspecting members of the public and retailers across the UK.

“The NCA remain focused in our work to combat illicit finance, which would otherwise help fund further serious and organised crime.”

DI Simon Reddington, of West Yorkshire Police Programme Precision, added: "Evidence of the circulation of forgeries in West Yorkshire was brought to police attention by the NCA and this case is an example of what partnership work between national and local law enforcement can achieve.

“As a district and a force we work closely with the NCA, and this case has been one of many we have collaborated on to tackle serious criminality in our district.

"There is no doubt this 'cash' was being used to fund crime in communities and it is a good thing for residents that this supply chain has been broken." 

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