Couple cleared of laundering cash

John Rooney, 36, and wife Margaret, 35, of Slapton Road, underwent a trial at Luton Crown Court.

The pair were charged by Beds Police after £70,080 was seized on September 14, 2014.

Of that amount, the prosecution had alleged £22,000 was from ATM machine robberies from some part of the country.

Central Beds Council’s fraud investigator Christopher Jones had appeared at Luton Magistrates Court in August on behalf of Central Beds Council and Beds Police to make a forfeiture application.

He had said: “Of the £70,000, I’m satisfied that £11,400 has come from a legitimate business, the laying of pathways and drives.”

The trial against both Rooneys began on May 5. Charges were completely dropped against Mrs Rooney midway through the trial on May 9.

Two days later on May 11, John Rooney was found not guilty after the jury delivered their verdict.