Son convicted of laundering money stolen by his mum

A Morecambe man has been convicted of laundering money stolen by his mum while she was working at a Carnforth store. Ian Bowman was found guilty at the end of a Preston Crown Court trial but the jury failed to reach a verdict in the case of his brother Mark Bowman and he now faces a possible retrial.

During the case, they were alleged to have benefited from their mother stealing ?350,000.

The jury had heard claims that it was "inconceivable" the sons did not know the money paid to them was the proceeds of crime.

Moira Bowman had abused the refund system for goods while a customer services manager at Booths.

Ian Bowman, aged thirty five, of Wentworth Crescent, Morecambe and his 33 year old brother of Burdock Walk, Morecambe, both denied money laundering.

Their defence was that they thought the money had come from her savings and family inheritances.

The trial had heard claims that the mother had given them nearly a quarter of a million pounds between them.Ian Bowman was alleged to have benefited to the tune of ?163,000 and his brother, ?84,000.

Ian Bowman told the court his mother had broken down and cried when she confessed to stealing the money. Up until then, he had no idea the money represented the proceeds of crime, he said.

Mark Bowman said he never thought his mother capable of stealing as she was an honest and decent woman. He said he was in shock when she told him what she had been doing.

The prosecution said Mrs Bowman of Grosvenor Place, Carnforth ,took at least around £350,000 over a five year period.

She and her son will be sentenced later.

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