Jailed crook stashed booze and fags in Doncaster barn in £1m crime racket

Father-of-seven Irvin Dunn orchestrated a £1 million illegal cigarette, tobacco and alcohol business from his prison cell.

He was jailed for three years in January last year for his role in a conspiracy involving the distribution and sale of hundreds of thousands of cigarettes that had no tax paid on them.

He was also involved in the storage of hundreds of litres of illegal vodka and beer in a barn at Everton, near Doncaster.

Dunn played a central role in the conspiracy, despite being in prison for causing unnecessary suffering to animals at a farm he ran.

The 57-year-old, from Sheffield, was taken to Sheffield Crown Court from jail for a proceeds of crime hearing during which the judge, Recorder John Thackray, was told he had benefited from his crimes by £237,783.

But following a financial investigation by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, he was deemed to only have £3,000 in ‘realisable assets’.

Recorder Thackray made a confiscation order for £3,000, which prosecutor Richard Jepson told the court police were already in possession of.

If he is found to have more assets in the future he can still be asked to repay more money at a later date.

During last year’s sentencing, Sheffield Crown Court was told the seized goods were estimated to be worth around £250,000, with ‘deal sheets’ indicating an estimated further income of £805,907 from sales.

Dunn’s brother, Wayne Dunn, of Abbeyfield Road, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, was jailed for 21 months imprisonment at the same time after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to evade duty. He was freed last year after serving half of his sentence.

The proceeds of crime hearing was told the 58-year-old’s benefit from criminal conduct was £3,280. He was found to have realisable assets of £1,971.56, and the judge made a confiscation order for the same amount.

Lee Pearson, 34, of Wilberforce Road, South Anston, sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 18 month last January, after admitting to being in charge of the storage premises where hundreds of litres of illegal vodka and beer were sold.

His benefit from his criminal conduct in the conspiracy was found to be £1,000, and a confiscation order was made for the same amount.