A man who helped to conceal the largest criminal cash seizure in Bradford has had £6,000 confiscated from him by a crown Court judge.

Ehtsham Ahmed, 26, of Victor Street, Heaton, Bradford, was given a suspended 12-month prison sentence and ordered to carry out 240 hours unpaid community work almost a year ago after he pleaded guilty to concealing criminal property.

The charge related to the seizure by police, in December 2008, of more than £870,000 cash hidden inside the chimney stack of a house in Wilmer Drive, Heaton.

Co-accused Baber Bashir, 35, of Victor Road, Heaton, was jailed for three and a half years after pleading guilty to the same offence.

The court heard that Ahmed was a “willing subordinate” to Bashir.

Ahmed also admitted attempting to remove £4,000 in criminal cash from the country.

Bashir had previously had a confiscation order made against him in the sum of £563,248.

Yesterday, Judge Robert Bartfield, sitting at Bradford Crown Court, made a confiscation order against Ahmed, under the Proceeds of Crime Act, in the sum of £6,003.

Francis Dunning, prosecuting, said it had been agreed between the parties that Ahmed’s criminal benefit was £65,620.

The figure included the deduction of £20,000 which had been seized from another defendant.

Mr Dunning said the available amount was agreed to be £6,003, which was already in the possession of the authorities.

Judge Bartfield ordered the money to be paid within 28 days, with four months imprisonment in default.

After the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Lisa Atkinson, of the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team, said the outcome was a significant result.

“This sends a clear message that, no matter how long it takes, we will strip criminals of their ill-gotten gains and put the proceeds to better use in local communities.”

  • Read the full story in Wednesday's T&A