by Keith Hunt

A mother drawn into a scheme involving the theft of thousands of pounds from bank accounts wept as she was jailed for 10 months.

A judge accepted that Tammy Kemp had been used and manipulated by others, including an ex-boyfriend, who were not before the court.

But he added: “The difficulty is, she contested this case. It is her right but she doesn’t get credit for her plea. It is clear beyond peradventure this passes the custody threshold.”

The sentence was imposed despite Judge Philip Statman hearing Kemp had a daughter who celebrates her sixth birthday later this month.
Maidstone Crown Court was told Kemp on one occasion flew to Dubai and spent £92,000 on watches and jewellery to "clean" the criminal money.

The 27-year-old, of Frindsbury Road, Frindsbury, denied two charges of acquiring criminal property and two of converting criminal property. but was convicted.
The jury heard large sums of money were stolen from unsuspecting internet bank account holders.

John Riley, prosecuting, said Kemp opened an account at the Chatham branch of the Co-op Bank in August 2007. Two months later £10,000 was transferred into it from an account in Cardiff. It had been taken from the account holder without his knowledge. Kemp then withdrew £8,500 from her account.

She opened an internet bank account with Intelligent Finance and £39,900 was transferred into it from a couple’s account with the same company.
There were further transfers from the same account of £116,900 and £25,000.

The prosecutor said seven or eight innocent people banking with IF had their accounts controlled by criminals.
In December 2007, Kemp bought three tickets to Dubai at a cost of £2,724. While there, she spent £92,000 in a watch shop. Together with other cash withdrawals and hotel expenses, she spent a total of £175,386.

Judge Statman told Kemp he was reducing the sentence as a matter of pure mercy and keeping it to the absolute minimum.
“I am absolutely certain, having heard the evidence, you were manipulated to a large extent by your then partner," he said. "I have no doubt he had considerable influence over you.

“I am also satisfied there are others well above you in this enterprise known to the police who were investigated and could have been prosecuted but for whatever reason were not.

“Thus, you are left at the end of the day as the sole individual convicted. You were on any view an important cog, however small, in this criminal enterprise which related to cleaning effectively £191,800.”

The most difficult aspect, he said, was that Kemp was a mother of a young child.
“I want you to understand I am mindful of just how dreadful an experience it will be for you to be parted from your daughter,” he added.
Judge Statman said after the trial it was “utterly extraordinary” that others were not prosecuted.