Andrew Haslam KC and Angus MacDonald successfully prosecute £79 million money laundering operation

October 13, 2025

Andrew Haslam KC and Angus MacDonald from Exchange Chambers have successfully prosecuted a multi-million-pound money laundering operation run by organised crime groups.

Details of the prosecution, along with the sentences handed down to members of the gang, can be revealed after a reporting restriction was amended.

Numerous members of the Leadbeater family all participated in the conspiracy, which was run out of the family home in Rotherham. Beyond the Leadbeater family, a number of other individuals were also part of the OCG at the centre of the scheme.

The money laundering conspiracy, which “facilitated the movement of £79 million” between October 2016 and March 2019, operated in two ways.

The first was through “sums from thousands to hundreds of thousands of pounds” in “dirty” cash being collected during handovers carried out in the car parks of public houses and supermarkets.

The second was through 14 “sham” companies operated and controlled by the defendants, which would be used to process the “dirty” cash collected.

Nine of the 14 sham companies were operated by the Leadbeaters, while the other five were “controlled by others on their behalf.”

The court heard how some of the “sham” companies had tens of millions of pounds in their accounts.

The scale of the money laundering conspiracy, involving transfers to far off locations, led Judge David Dixon to term it as “crime of the highest order.”

Judge Dixon told the court that wherever it was sourced “the volume of funds through one family shows their importance to the underworld involved in criminal enterprises regionally if not nationally.”

The gang members’ roles and the sentences passed down were as follows:

Roan Leadbeater

Roan Leadbeater, described as the “key player” in the conspiracy, who “led, controlled and orchestrated it all,” has fled the country – leaving the jurisdiction – along with his son Spencer.

Claire Leadbeater

During a sentencing hearing held in July 2025, Claire Leadbeater was sentenced to 84 months in prison after being found guilty following a trial which concluded in March 2025.

Dominic Leadbeater

Judge Dixon described Dominic Leadbeater as his father’s “right hand man.”

He pleaded guilty and was jailed for 68 months.

Spencer Leadbeater

Spencer Leadbeater “played his part in collecting cash at the very least,” said Judge Dixon.

Just like his father, Spencer Leadbeater is believed to still be in a country outside of the jurisdiction, and as such, has not yet been brought to justice.

Coral Wade

Coral Wade held a significant role in the running of three of the sham companies, through which “many millions of pounds of criminal property were laundered.”

Wade was jailed for 52 months after pleading guilty in November 2024.

Paul Williams

Paul Williams’ involvement was limited to the “activity of a single sham company,” as part of which he played a “limited function” under direction.

He acted as the director of the sham company in return for ‘wages’, which were paid to him on a regular basis.

Williams pleaded guilty in December 2024 to money laundering offences and was jailed for 45 months.

Stephen Osborne

Stephen Osborne was responsible for five cash handovers during which an estimated amount of £2,396,270 is believed to have been collected.

Osbourne was jailed for six years, after being found guilty at the conclusion of the March 2025 trial.

Neil Steer

Neil Steer used his experience as a trained accountant to provide advice as to what might happen if transfers were queried, in addition to identifying that other accounts would be needed.

Steer received a sentence of 20 months’ custody, suspended for two months, along with a three-month curfew. He pleaded guilty during his trial.

Kevin Window and Michael Woolley

Kevin Window and Michael Woolley had the role of “couriers.”

Window pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 weeks’ custody, suspended for 18 months in July 2025.

Woolley also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 13 months’ custody, suspended for 2 years, in July 2025.

Craig Hawley and Rachel Greene

Craig Hawley and Rachel Greene are the latest OCG members to be sentenced, during a hearing before Judge Dixon on September 19, 2025.

The role of Hawley, also an accountant, was to use his professional skills to assist with the investigation. Using at least one of the sham companies, Hawley was involved in the movement of over £1m of criminal property in what Judge Dixon described as “sustained activity.”

Hawley was sentenced to 24 months’ custody, suspended for 18 months, along with a three-month curfew after pleading guilty during his trial.

Rachel Greene helped to move in excess of £4.5million through the use of a sham company.

Judge Dixon accepted Greene was acting under the direction of her partner at the time.

Greene pleaded guilty to money laundering offences in January this year and was sentenced to 24 months’ custody suspended for 18 months, along with a three-month curfew.