Socialite Claims He Was Unaware of Criminal Enterprise in Trial
James Stunt insists he never agreed to any criminal activities during his trial
James Stunt, Bradford, London, Money Laundering, F1, Bernie Ecclestone
Leeds: So, James Stunt, the socialite and former son-in-law of F1 mogul Bernie Ecclestone, is in a bit of hot water. He’s on trial for money laundering, and he’s claiming he had no idea he was getting involved in anything shady.
Stunt, who used to be married to Ecclestone’s daughter, said he thought he was just running a legit gold business. He partnered with a gold dealer in Bradford, and things took a turn when prosecutors accused him of being part of a scheme to turn dirty money into gold.
According to the court, around £200 million was laundered over two years, and Stunt’s office in Mayfair was allegedly a hub for this operation. He insists he was just trying to make a living and had no clue about any criminal activities.
During the trial, he explained how he started his gold business and even built a refinery in Sheffield. He met the owners of a gold supplier and thought they were trustworthy. They teamed up, and he provided the cash while they handled the gold.
Stunt said he was told they had clients who needed a safe place to deposit cash in London. When asked if he thought he was getting involved in a criminal scheme, he firmly said no. He even mentioned he never saw any money being delivered to his office.
Things got rocky when some gold went missing in 2016, and he felt frustrated that he couldn’t get a straight answer from his partners. Now, he’s facing serious charges along with a few others, but he’s sticking to his story that he’s innocent.
The trial is ongoing, and it’s definitely one to keep an eye on. It’s wild how quickly things can spiral when money is involved!